Cibrarjp  of  trhe  trheolojical  ^tmimvy 

PRINCETON  •  NEW  JERSEY 
PRESENTED  BY 

Rufus  H,   LeFevre 

A.BQZ 


♦  ♦♦/-♦V  ll*>* 


T' 


omtmt 


OF  SEVERAL 
OF  THE 


United  Brethren  Churches 


OF  READING 

AND    VICINITY 


3Y 


l/ 

C.      I.       B.       B  R  A  N  E 


Press  of 

Behney  &  Bright,  Book  and  Commercial  Printers 

610  Washington  Street,  Reading,  Pa. 


Jcbkatch 


TO  THE 

FATHERS  AND  MOTHERS 

OUT  OF  WHOSE  TOILS  AND  TEARS 

THESE  CHURCHES  SPRANG 

TO  THOSE  WHO  SUCCEEDED  THEM  IN  THE  WORK 

AND  BUILT  UPON  THE  FOUNDATIONS  THEY  LAID 

IN  LOVE  TO  GOD  AND  MAN 

TO  THOSE  WHO  NOW 

BEAR  THE  BURDENS  OF  CONGREGATIONAL  ENLARGEMENT 

INCLUDING  MORE  SOULS    . 

AND  BETTER  FACILITIES  FOR 

THEIR  SPIRITUAL  CULTURE 

TO  THE 

PRESENT  MEMBERSHIP  AND  EACH  PASTOR 

OF  THESE  CHURCHES 

'Sljts  •§"mn»cnir 

IS  AFFECTIONATELY 
DEDICATED 


BISHOP  J.  S.  MILLS.  D.D.,  LL.D. 


flcUi  mxit  Wl}^ 


It  was  originally  suggested  that  I  present  the 
gist  of  the  following  pages  in  the  form  of  a 
pamphlet,  secure  enough  advertisements  to  pay 
for  its  publication,  and  then  sell  the  booklet  in 
the  interest  of  the  church.  Having  no  taste  for 
such  a  sandwich,  I  entered  upon  the  preparation 

of  this  Historical  Souvenir,  and  invited  our 

pastors  of  the  city  and  vicinity  to  furnish  me  an 
historical  account  of  their  several  congregations, 
which  they  have  kindly  done.  So  this  litde  vol- 
ume is  before  you,  unpretentious  but  mechanically 
well  executed,  not  as  a  money-making  venture, 
but  as  an  expression  of  interest  in  the  achievements  of  the  fathers 
and  in  the  welfare  of  the  churches  they  established.  Besides  the 
work  of  collecting  and  preparing  the  matter,  this  SOUVENIR  cost  the 
publisher  twenty-five  dollars.  For  the  historical  stories  of  their 
respective  congregations,  1  am  very  grateful  to  Revs.  G.  D.  Batdorf, 
S.  B.  Wengert,  S.  G.  Kauffman,  J.  E.  Keene,  J.  A.  Grier,  H.  S.  Kiefer 
and  1.  H.  Albright. 


Dr.  Brane 


e.  J?/d.S. 


Easier,  1909 


DR.   D.   D.   !  OWERY.   Presiding   Elder 


JV  11ur^  uf  ^ntmbuctiiin 


The  history  of  the  church  is  simply  the  Divine  story  of  conse- 
crated souls  and  their  heroic  achievements  in  His  spiritual  kingdom. 
It  is  but  a  record  of  the  continuance  "concerning  all  that  Jesus  began 
both  to  do  and  to  teach,  until  the  day  in  which  he  was  received 
up."  Every  detail  in  this  story  has  bo?h  value  and  power  to  the 
devout  follow^er.  Its  value  becomes  increasingly  fascinating  and 
precious  with  the  passing  years.  Many  of  the  best  and  most  in- 
spiring facts  in  the  Church's  triumphs  have  never  been  tabulated 
in  local  church  records,  nor  permanently  written  in  her  larger 
history.  Much  that  is  spiritually  uplifting,  as  w^ell  as  intellectually 
interesting  and  refreshing,  has  been  preserved  only  in  the  memory 
of  individual  experience.  The  meagerness  of  the  preserved  records, 
particularly  in  the  early  beginnings,  makes  all  the  more  precious 
what  has  been  accurately  w^ritten  and  carefully  preserved.  Any 
effort  to  put  in  permanent  form  the  fragrance  of  Christian  experi- 
ence in  personal  character,  and  valuable  facts  in  the  Church's  life, 
is  commended  and  cherished  by  all  lovers  of  the  Church. 

The  Historical  Souvenir,  prepared  by  Dr.  C.  I.  B.  Brane,  pre- 
serves an  important  and  inspiring  chapter  in  the  Church's  history. 
The  living  record  by  pen  and  picture  of  the  Otterbein  Church, 
Reading,  Penn'a,  as  well  as  of  the  other  congregations  included  in 
this  book,  permits  its  readers  to  live  again  in  holy  fellovs^ship  with 
the  fathers  in  the  earlier  days  of  their  hardships  a,nd  triumphs.  This 
little  volume  contains  much  valuable  material,  not  only  of  particular 
interest  to  the  congregations  included,  but  also  of  permanent  value 
and  interest  to  the  Conference  and  the  Church  at  large.  But  for 
the  painstaking  w^ork  of  the  author,  much  that  this  book  contains 
would  have  remained  unavailable  in  future  years,  and  in  all  proba- 
bility w^ould  have  been  entirely  lost  to  the  Church.  Because  of  a 
genuine  love  and  fascination  for  the  landmarks  of  our  denomina- 
tional life.  Dr.  Brane  is  peculiarly  fitted  for  the  task  to  v/hich  he 
gave  himself. 

The   Souvenir    is    a  veritable    gem,  both    in    design  and  artistic 

workmanship,  and  it  will    find    a  cherished    place  in  the  homes  of 

many  United  Brethren  people. 

G.  D.  BATDORF 


OTTERBEIN  CHAPEL 


IN  1866,  during  the  pastorate  of 
Rev.  Ezekiel  Light,  44  members 
of  Zion  United  Brethren  Church, 
South  Ninth  Street,  Reading,  Pa., 
formed  themselves  into  a  sepa- 
rate class  and  organized  a  new  congrega- 
tion, whose  services  should  be  exclusively 
English,  especially  for  the  sake  of  the  young 
people,  who  preferred  that  language  to  their 
mother  tongue.  This  separation  w^as  mu- 
tually agreed  upon  by  the  German  and 
English  members  of  Zion  Church  ;  and  the 
latter  at  once  began  the  erection  of  a  house 
of  worship  on  North  Eighth  Street.  On  the 
31st  of  March,  1867,  after  worshiping  several  months  in  Hagy's  Hall,  north- 
east corner  of  Seventh  and  Penn  Streets,  the  little  chapel  was  dedicated  by 
Bishop  Glossbrenner,  assisted  by  Revs.  Ezekiel  Light,  G.  W.  M.  Rigor  and 
Lewis  Peters,  the  pastor.  During  the  first  year  of  Rev.  Peters'  gracious  ministry 
over  two  hundred  souls  were  saved,  one  hundred  and  fifty  of  whom  joined 
the  new  church,  which  was  called  Otterbein  Chapel.  The  original  building 
was  a  little  frame  structure  which  stood  down  from  the  grade  and  back  from 
the  building  line,  as  you  see  in  the  picture,  which  was  furnished  by  Mr.  Howard 
Davies,  one  of  the  early  converts. 

The  first  trustees  were  Michael  Sands,  Wm.  Bingaman,  E.  G.  Fishburn  and 
Joseph  Sands. 

The  follow^ing  were  charter  members : 


Old  Chapel 


Amos  Graul 
Servena  Graul 
Nicholas  Zell 
Elizabeth  Zell 
E.  G.  Fishburn 
Joseph  Sands 
John  Strunk 
Susan  Strunk 
Elizabeth  Strunk 
Amanda  Bingaman 
Lillie  Sands 


Lydia  Sands 
Mary  C.  Lotz 
Catharine  Haus 
Sophia  Dawson 
Albert  Genbise 
Wm.  Bingaman 
Rebecca  Bingaman 
Ellen  Geiger 
Margaret  Weyman 
Annie  Weyman 


Michael  Sands 
Sabilla  Sands 
Geo.  Hefflefinger 
William  Kuser 
Adam  J.  Mengel 
Sarah  Mengel 
Charles  Fisher 
Susan  Heafer 
Anna  Staudt 
Mary  A.  Zollers 


Mary  Eisenbise 
Sarah  Druckennuck 
Emma  Bingaman 
Sallie  Echtermach 
William  Dewson 
Henry  Zieber 
Anna  Zieber 
Hannah  Bruckenmiller 
Rachel  Bowers 
Mary  E.  Dewson 
Mary  Graul 


In    1879,  during  the  pastorate  of   Rev.  J.  B.  Funk,  the    old    chapel  was  re- 
modeled and  enlarged  ;  and   during  Rev.   H.  C.   Phillips'   administration  the 
(b)  9 


10 


HISTORICAL      SOUVENIR 


Sunday  School  room  was  changed    and    refurnished.       In    1904,    during   the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  R.   Meridith,  some  important  improvements  were  added 

to  the  interior,  the  Sunday  School  room 
and  auditorium  being  refurnished,  and  a 
very  desirable  change  effected  in  the  stair- 
way of  the  church.  These  improvements, 
including  a  separate  room  for  the  primary 
department,  w^ere  made  at  an  expense  of 
$2,000. 

CHARTER  MEMBERS  REMAINING 

Of  the  forty-four  charter  members  only 
these  seven  remain  :  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry 
Zieber,  Mrs.  Rachel  Bowers,  Mrs.  Rebecca 
Bingaman,  Mrs.  Tillie  Miller,  Mrs.  Lydia 
High  and  Mary  Graul.     Mrs.  Tillie  Miller 

Present  Church  nil  r  1  r  Dl   1 

collected    the    money  ror    the    hrst    bible 
used  in  Otterbein  Chapel,  and  presented  it  to  the  church. 


OTPERBEIN'S  PASTORS 


Feb.. 

1867.  to 

March. 

1871,  L.  Peters 

March 

1888.  to  Oct 

March, 

1871,  " 

1872,  " 
1876,  •' 
1878,  " 
1880.  •' 
1885.  •• 

' 

1872,  W.  B.  Evers 
1876,  I.  Carpenter 
1878,  M.J.  Mumma 
1880,  J.  B.  Funk 
1885,  H.  C.  Phillips 
1888,  M.  P.  Doyle 

THE 

DEED 

1889,  " 
1892,  " 
1895,  " 
1898.  '• 
1904,  " 
1906,  " 

1889,  M.  A.  Salt 
1892,  1.  Baltzell 
1895,  H.  D.  Lehman 
1898,  Z.  A.  Weidler 
1904,  J.  R.  Meridith 
1906,  E.  Ludwick 
1909,  C.  I.  B.  Brane 


The  deed  for  the  lot  on  which  the  chapel  stands  w^as  executed  before 
Alderman  Washington  Rechards,  February  25,  1870.  It  was  made  by  Jacob 
Sauerbier  and  w^ife  to  Michael  Sands,  John  Bauman  and  Samuel  Lessig,  in 
trust  for  the  Church  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ.  The  lot  is  40x109  feet 
and  cost  $1,600.  It  is  well  located  for  business  purposes  on  the  west  side  of 
North  Eighth  Street,  between  Walnut  and  Elm.  The  lot  w^as  bought  several 
years  before  the  deed  was  executed  ;  for  the  chapel  was  dedicated  on  the 
31st  of  March,  1867,  which  means  that  the  lot  was  probably  purchased  and 
work  on  the  church  begun  in  1866.  The  lot  and  church,  as  remodeled  and 
improved,  including  furnishings,  cost  about  $10,000.  The  auditorium  is  larger 
and  much  more  cozy  and  comfortable  than  the  exterior  of  the  church  would 
indicate. 

It  is  just  forty-two  years  since  the  little  chapel  on  North  Eighth  Street  was 
dedicated  by  Bishop  Glossbrenner,  who  was  one  of  the  deepest  and  sweetest 
Gospel  preachers  that  God  ever  laid  His  hand  upon.  That  was  a  high  day 
in  the  experience  of  those  fifty  members,  most  of  whom  have  gone  to  their 
reward. 


The   above  is   a   picture    of    the 
in  1  868.     The  following  is  the  list  of 


Young  Men's  Prayer  League,  organized 
members  as  they  appear  on  the  picture  : 


Rev.  L.  Peters 
Theodore  Deysher 
M.  Smith 
J.  H.  Wilkinson 

C.  Fisher 

D.  Wilkinson 
W.  Auge 
W.  Spearse 
W.  Homan 
C.  Behney 

J.  Moore 
B.  F.  Hill 
J.  Schlosser 

E.  G.   Fishburn 
Howard  Davies 
W.  Coleman 
O.  L.  Edes 


Michael  Sands 

B.  Fowling 

J.  L.  Jennings 
J.  L.  Smith 
H.  Morgan 
A.  J.  Mengel 

C.  Zieber 

E.  D.  Smith 
N.  Foreman 
J.  W.  Geiger 
H.  Dowling 
J.  Spangler 
J.  Sands 

D.  Keim 

T.  J.  Geiger 
A.  Landis 

F.  Coleman 


J.  R.  Staul 

F.  Hawk 

A.  N.  Bitting 
W.  Schull 
W.  Killian 
W.  Edes 
H.  Newpher 

G.  Grajf 
F.  Harner 
J.  Dorwart 
J.  D.  Lessig 
A.  Graul 
Wm.  H.  Miller 
Wm.  H.  Achenbach 
S.  D.  Burk 

W.  H.  H.  Fireing 
W.  Angstadt 


J.  H.  Neff 

J.  H.  Simpson 

J.  B.  High 

S.  D.  Sheaffer 

J.  Bow^man 

W.  W.  Dew^son 

J.  Michael 

W.  M.  Miller 

W.  J.  Miller 

C.  Richards 

S.  Lehman 

E.  Ziegler 

Z.  Schaffer 

H.  Herner 

W.  Quaintance 

J.  H.  Grimes 

J.  H.  Echtenmach 

E.  Jeffries 


^    $    t    t    t 

$  I  I  H  t  t  s 


'^^  ^%r  A'' 


%4(^ 


.V,        V      i .    ^ 


The  above  picture  includes  twenty  members  of  the  \  oung  Men  s  Bible 
Class,  taught  by  Mrs.  J.  B.  Baker,  who  was  one  of  the  most  faithful  and  efficient 
workers  the  congregation  ever  had.  In  1905,  when  the  teacher  withdrew,  the 
members  of  this  interesting  class  became  widely  scattered.  May  the  nail- 
marked  hand  rest  on  each  head  ! 

Those  on  the  picture,  reading  from  left  to  right,  are  :  First  row.  Homer 
Meridith,  Festus  Seip,  Clarence  L.  Miller,  William  Rhoads,  Charles  A.  Wisler, 
Harry  Snyder,  George  Pflum,  Winfield  Snyder.  Middle  row,  Edward  Bom- 
gardner,  Clifford  Landis,  George  Lee,  John  Williams,  Philip  Bomgardner, 
Mark  Hutchinson,  James  Rhoads.  Rear  row,  Clyde  Snyder,  Clifford  Spangler, 
Chester  Zimmerman,  Charles  Sands,  Charles  Glase.  Members  of  the  Class 
not  on  the  picture :  Chester  Meridith,  Charles  Morison,  Elwood  Guinther, 
Charles  Hurst,  William  Hurst,  William  Sterner,  Charles  Brown,  Charles  Mc- 
Donough,  James  Heller,  G.  Harel  Gundy,  Luther  Weidman  and  Isaac  Herr. 

A  GOOD  YEAR 
This  promises  to  be  a  good  year  in  the  history  of  Otterbein  Church.  It 
can  and  should  be  made  the  best  she  has  yet  enjoyed.  The  last  dollar  has 
been  paid  on  the  indebtedness  of  the  church,  which  was  $500,  two  years  ago. 
Improvements  of  great  comfort  and  convenience  to  the  pastor  and  his  family 
have  been  made  at  the  parsonage,  costing  about  $250.  Over  $500  has  been 
raised  in  cash  for  the  building  fund.  The  financial  budget  for  this  year  ex- 
ceeds all  past  records.  The  last  communion,  January  3,  1909,  was  the  largest 
for  many  years.  The  public  preaching  services  are  well  attended,  considering 
the  size  of  our  membership.  Indeed,  the  attendance  at  these  services  is  twice 
what  it  was  two  years  ago. 
12 


UNITED      BRETHREN      CHURCH 


13 


ROLL  OF   MEMBERS 


Adams,  Mrs.  John,  318  North  Sixth 

Bomgardner,  William  H.,  1571  Mineral  Spring 

Bomgardner,  Mrs.  Wm.  H. 

Bomgardner,  Mary  E. 

Bomgardner,  Ruth 

Behm,  Adam  M.,  1  132  Greenwich 

Behm,  Mrs.  A.  M.      " 

Bear,  Mrs.  Lillian,  Edison 

Behney,  G.  Walter,  1318  Buttonwood 

Behney,  Mrs.  G.  W.      " 

Behney,  Earl 

Behney,  Esther 

Brane,  C.  I.  B.,  519  North  Ninth 

Brane,  Mrs.  Clara  M. 

Brane,  Jessie  M. 

Brane,  Roscoe  H. 

Brane,  Grace  M. 

Brane,  Etta 

Brane,  Dennis  D. 

Blatt,  Benjamin,  335  North  Twelfth 

Blatt,  Mrs.  Benjamin,      " 

Blatt,  Sallie 

Blatt,  Annie 

Blatt,  Clarence 

Batdorf,  Mary,   1503  Perkiomen  Avenue 

Becker,  Maud,  223  Carpenter 

Becker,  Ethel 

Becker,  Lorain 

Berg,  Mrs.  Barbara,  714  North  Sixth 

Covington,  Mrs.  Annie,  330  North  Tenth 

Covington,  Nellie 

Coyle,  L.  J.,  1117  Greenwich 

Clouser,  William  L.,  529  Weiser 

Clouser,  Mrs.  Annie 

Cox,  Mary  A.,  834  Green 

Conrad,  Mrs.  M.  E..  302  Court 

Davies,  Lev/is  O.,  317  North  Eleventh 

Davies,  Mrs.  Annie 

Davies,  Hov^fard,  1117  Elm 

Davies,  Mrs.  Mary 

Deysher,  Theodore,  921  Elm 

Deysher,  Mrs.  Mary      " 

Dungan,  Harry,  436  Pear 

Dungan,  Mrs.  Mary     " 

Diller,  Amos,  Reading,  R.  D.  No.  I 

Diller,  Mrs.  L.  S.       " 

Diller,  Hilbert  G.      " 

Diller,  Allen  L. 

Eyrick,  Mrs.  Matilda,  212  Jefferson 

Ford,  Edward  P.,  935  Winder 

Ford,  Mrs.  Laura 

Forney,  Sallie,  742  Walnut 


Frankfort,  H.  G.,  Ephrata,  Penn'a 

Frankfort,  Mrs.  H.  G. 

Geiger,  J.  H.  B.,  329  South  Thirteenth 

Geiger,  Mrs.  Emma 

Graul,  Mary,  315  Moss 

Gehret,  Beckie,  I  135  Buttonw^ood 

Good,  Henry,  1319 

Good,  Noah 

Goas,  Mrs.  Emma,  630  Pear 

Gallagher,  Mrs.  Mary  E.,  928  Oley 

High?  Levi,  206  North  Ninth 

High,  Mrs.  Louisa 

High,  Mrs.  Emma 

Hess,  Mrs.  Sallie,  1525  Moss 

Hill,  Ida  M.,  219  Greenwich 

Hill,  Mrs.  Richard 

Hill,  Amelia  E,  1257  Spring 

Hayden,  Mrs.  Edna  M.,  212  Poplar 

Heim,  Mrs.  Ida,  1022  Mulberry 

Hedrick,  Louisa  M.,  1380  Perkiomen  Avenue 

Herner,  Mrs.  Cordelia,   1116  Green 

Herner,  Paul 

Hoverter,  Mrs.  Emma  J.,  619  Pear 

Hoverter,  Ruth 

Hurst,  Mrs.  Clara,  425  Orange 

Humelsine,  John  F.,  253  Penn 

Humelsine,  Mrs.  Lizzie 

Hoopes,  Howard,  1035  Douglass 

Hoopes,  Mrs.  A.  S.      " 

Heffner,  Mrs.  Hettie  A.,   1051   Buttonwood 

Herm,  Catharine,  242  South  Eighth 

Herm,  Mary  F. 

Herm,  Elsie  E. 

Hoffman,  Mrs.  Jennie,  944  Franklin 

Kline,  Mrs.  Emma,  Rolling  Mill 

Kline,  Irvin  R.,  452  North  Eleventh 

Kline,  Mrs.  Lizzie 

Kline,  Evan 

Kline,  Mrs.  Lovenia,  936  North  Tenth 

Knipe,  Mrs.  Ella,  230  North  Ninth 

Lied,  Harry,  339  North  Eighth 

Lied,  Mrs.  Susan 

Lied,  Minnie 

Landis,  Samuel,  625  North  Eleventh 

Landis,  Mrs.  Samuel 

Lessig,  Mrs.  Sallie,  329  South  Third 

Lutz,  Esther,  318  North  Sixth 

Loose,  Mrs.  Emma,  531  North  Ninth 

Loose,  Alberta 

Long,  George  E.,  506  Front 

Long,  Mrs.  Alice  M. 

Long,  Harvey 


14 


HISTORICAL      SOUVENIR 


Long,  Mrs.  Annie,  253  Penn 

Miller,  William,  201   Franklin 

Miller,  Mrs.  TiUie. 

Miller,  Clarence  L.,  712  Schuylkill 

Miller,  Mrs.  Mary  E.,  234  South  Ninth 

Miller,  Mrs.  Mary,  8  Buttonwood 

Murdorf,  William,  623  Ritter 

Morgan,  Hattie,  755  Bingaman 

Meredith,  Rev.  J.  R.,  816  Walnut 

Meredith,  Mrs.  J.  R.     " 

McCarty,  .Abraham,  207 '.j  North  Third 

McCarty,  Mrs.  Abraham 

Miller,  Harry  J.,   1255  Greenwich 

Miller,  Mrs.  Mary  J. 

Moyer,  Frank  N.,  720  Centre  Avenue 

Moyer,  Mrs.  F.  N.   " 

Moyer,  C.  Walter    " 

Neizel,  Bertha  M.,  237  South  Fourth 

Neizel,  Annie  E. 

O'Bryan,  John  H.,  11 39  Church 

O'Bryan,  Mrs.  Mary  " 

Pinyard,  Mrs.  Annie 

Qyinter,  Mark  R.,  112  Oley 

Quinter,  Mrs.  Mary  R.      " 

Russel,  Mrs.  Bettie,  1649  Moss 

Reiber,  Mrs.  Alva,  212  Poplar 

Rothermel,  Mrs.  Beulah,   1  127  Marion 

Rothermel,  Mrs.  Esther,  242  West  Buttonwood 

Reist,  Joseph,  143  North  Front 

Reist,  Mrs.  Laura 

Reist,  Naomi 

Reist,  Ruth 

Riffert,  Mrs.  Ella.  333  North  Eighth 

Resser,  William  P.,  112  North  Third 

Rowe,  Mrs.  Sallie,   168  Clymer 

Rhoads,  Louisa,  736  Moss 

Smith,  Elmer  C,  331   North  Second 

Smith,  Mrs.  Ella      " 

Smith,  Virginia 

Smith,  Mrs.  Emma,  24  North  Sixth 

Shadell,  Mrs.  Louisa,   1  1  16  Green 

Sherker,  Mrs.  Clara,  318  North  Sixth 

Shaeffer,  Harry,  919  Greenwich 

Shaeffer,  Mrs.  Annie 

Schaeffer,  James  W.,  255  Penn 

Schaeffer,  Mrs.  Agnes 

Shaeffer,  Harry  K.,  738  Madison  Avenue 

Shaeffer,  Mrs.  Harriet  K. 

Saylor,  Mrs.  Kate,  540  North  Eleventh 

Schable,  Mrs.  Annie,  Philadelphia,  Penn'a 

Sterner,  Frank  W.,  803  North  Eleventh 

Sterner,  Mrs.  Sallie 


Sterner,  Howard,  803  North  Eleventh 

Sterner,  Russel  H. 

Spohn,  Charles  E.,  720  Locust 

Spohn,  Mrs.  Esther 

Strunk,  Lillian  C,  441  Woodward 

Spangler,  Howard,  759  Bingaman 

Spangler,  Mrs.  Estella 

Spangler,  Mrs.  Clara  J.,  453  North  Eleventh 

Spatz,  W.  D.  B.,  945  North  Fifth 

Spatz,  Mrs.  Bessie 

Schetter,  Mrs.  Nora  H.,  936  North  Tenth 

Snyder,  Bessie, 

Stoner,  Jacob,  341  South  Sixth 

Stoner,  Clay,  418  Woodward 

Stoner,  Mrs.  Geneva 

Stoner,  Erma  " 

Stoner,  Kise 

Strohecker,  Aaron,  Edison,  Penn'a 

Spears,  Mrs.  Annie  C,  230  South  Tenth 

Symonds,  Mrs.  Ida  K.,  354  South  Fourth 

Sands,  Ephriam,  308  West  Oley 

Sands,  Mrs.  Kate  M.      " 

Shearer,  William,   I  14  North  Ninth 

Shearer,  Mrs.  William      " 

Shearer,  Marie 

Strausser,  Raymond, 

Staul,  George  K.,  Reading,  Penn'a 

Strohecker,  Jacob  G.,   1011  Church 

Strohecker,  Mrs.  J.  G. 

Strohecker,  Aaron,  Edison,  Penn'a 

Wisler,  Mrs.  Mary  C,   1117  Greenwich 

Wisler,  Charles  A. 

Wisler,  Howard  W.,  527  North  Eleventh 

Wisler,  Mrs.  Geneva    " 

Wisler,  Mary  W. 

Werts,  James,  818  Greenwich 

Werts,  Mrs.  Annie  " 

Werts,  Esther 

Werts,  Annie  " 

Werts,  Mrs.  W.  C,  353  Schuylkill  Avenue 

Wise,  Samuel,  104  Oley 

Wise,  Mary  C.      " 

Weinhold,  Ezra  R.,  434  Pear 

Weinhold,  Mrs.  Ezra  R.      " 

Walther,  Mrs.  Lillian,  223  Carpenter 

Yerger,  Carrie,  343  Miller 

Yoder,  Sarah,  

Zieber,  Henry,  745  Lance  Place 

Zieber,  Mrs.  Annie      " 

Zell,  Ebb  N.,  316  North  Ninth 

Zell,  Mrs.  Belle,  512  Cedar 

Zimmerman,  Samuel,  Rosedale,  Penn'a 

Zimmerman,  Mrs.  Mary       "  " 


UNITED      BRETHREN      CHURCH  15 

PROMOTED 

The  following  members  and  friends  died  during  the  present  administra- 
tion :  Frederick  Zimmerman,  Howard  Spangler,  John  Nagle,  Elmer  E.  O'Bry- 
an,  Margaret  Strohecker,  Milton  F.  Bear,  Harry  B.  Douglass,  Catharine  St.  Clair 
Miller,  Stephen  Walther,  Anna  Murdorf,  J.  S.  Face,  Robert  Morgan,  Isabella 
Lutz,  Catharine  Hill,  Amanda  Lessig,  Barbara  Nagle,  Richard  P.  Hill. 

SEWING  CIRCLE 

The  Ladies'  Sewing  Circle  w^as  organized  January  4,  1 906,  at  the  home 
of  Mrs.  Belle  Zell,  5  ]  2  Cedar  Street,  and  the  following  officers  were  elected  : 
President,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Schaffer ;  Vice-President,  Mrs.  George  Long ;  Secretary, 
Mrs.  J.  Walter  Behney  ;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  L.  J.  Coyle.  The  Circle  has  been  active 
and  enterprising,  and  is  doing  a  good  w^ork  for  the  church. 

CRADLE  ROLL 

The  Cradle  Roll  of  the  Sunday  School  w^as  organized  January  25,  1903. 
Theodore  Deysher  is  the  Superintendent,  and  these  are  the  present  members : 

Emma  Esther  Adams,  Emma  Lula  Davies,  Elsie  Grace  Dussinger,  Dorothy 
I.  Dussinger,  Violet  Anna  DeBinder,  Paul  Peter  Heim,  Catharin  Julia  Hoopes, 
Miriam  Helen  Herm,  Thelma  Mae  Hayden,  Mary  Ellen  Hoopes,  Ruth  Leibel- 
sperger,  Henry  Jeremiah  O'Bryan,  Esther  Laura  Reist,  Eber  James  Spatz, 
Clarence  Henry  Shaeffer,  Wilbur  D.  B.  Spatz,  Ralph  Reeser  Sterner,  Ethel 
Florence  Werts. 

PRIMARY  SCHOOL 

Theodore  Deysher,  Superintendent ;  Mrs.  Deysher  and  Mrs.  Annie 
Pinyard,  Assistants.     The  members  are  the  follow^ing : 

Esther  Behney,  Dennis  DeWitt  Brane,  Paul  Blatt,  Herbert  Davis,  Elizabeth 
Ford,  Sadie  Fick,  Lewis  Ott  Goas,  Vera  Heffner,  Carrie  Heffner,  Mary  Herm, 
Elsie  P.  E.  Herm,  Katharyne  Louisa  High,  Evan  Kline,  Ada  Landis,  William 
A.  Moyer,  Aaron  Mock,  Raymond  Reeser,  Reynolds  Riffert,  Naomi  Reist, 
James  LeRoy  Reist,  Clara  Hilda  Sherker,  Virginia  Smith,  Olga  Minerva  Smith, 
Russel  Sterner,  Catharine  Spatz,  Emily  E.  Spatz,  Warren  C.  Spatz,  Irene 
Schaeffer,  Samuel  D.  Sellers,  Margaret  Vernon,  Bessie  Zell. 

LADIES'  AID  SOCIETY 

The  Ladies'  Aid  Society  w^as  organized  in  1  876,  under  Rev.  M.  J.  Mumma's 
administration,  his  w^ife  being  the  first  President  and  Mrs.  Rachel  Wise  the 
first  Secretary.  These  are  the  present  officers:  President,  Mrs.  Annie  Clouser; 
Vice-President,  Mrs.  Mary  Davies ;  Secretary,  Mrs.  G.  Walter  Behney  ;  Treas- 
urer, Mrs.  Mary  Deysher.  The  following  are  the  Stew^ards :  Mrs.  Mary  Dey- 
sher, Mrs.  Clara  Behm,  Mrs.  William  Bomgardner,  Mrs.  George  Long,  Mrs. 
Harry  Dungan,  Mrs.  Annie  Pinyard,  Mrs.  Howard  Wisler,  Mrs.  Ezra  Winhold. 
The  Society  has  about  fifty  members,  and  is  doing  a  good  work  for  the  church. 
Its  special  concern  is  the  care  of  the  parsonage,  upon  which  the  Society  just 
spent  about  $300  for  improvements  which  greatly  add  to  the  value  of  the  house. 


16  HISTORICAL      SOUVENIR 


ANOTHER  TEMPLE 


•^IJT  ERE  is  room  for  a  new  church  !  Aye, 
X^p  not  only  room,  but  also  real  need  and 
pressing  demand  for  a  comfortable 
and  convenient  house  of  worship,  and  that 
on  a  new  and  more  suitable  site.  For  forty- 
two  years  Otterbein  Church  has  been  a 
vital  force  in  the  moral  and  spiritual  assets 
of  the  city,  having  won  over  five  thousand 
souls  to  an  open  confession  of  faith  in  Jesus, 
to  say  nothing  of  as  many  more  who  were 
secretly  led  to  a  life  hid  with  Christ  in  God, 
one  fifth  of  whom  are  estimated  to  be  active 
members    of    other    churches    in    the    city. 

Room  for  a  New  Church  •  r  1         f  J 

Moreover,  on  questions  of  moral  retorm  and 
civic  righteousness,  including  the  prompt  payment  of  all  sums  assessed  to  her 
for  their  support,  even  when  they  seemed  out  of  proportion  to  her  limited 
means  and  membership,  this  church  has  never  failed  to  meet  the  demands  of 
those  who  had  charge  of  these  great  interests.  Notwithstanding  one  unfor- 
tunate administration,  and  also  a  recent  organized  disaffection,  which  finally 
took  from  the  rolls  of  the  church  and  Sunday  School  more  than  a  hundred 
members,  the  moral  and  spiritual  resources  of  the  congregation  today  are  full 
of  promi.se.  More  than  one  hundred  of  the  best  people  of  the  city  are  enrolled 
in  her  membership.  That  alone  is  an  inspiration  !  For  ten  such  persons  God 
would  have  spared  Sodom.  What  will  he  not  do  for  a  hundred  pious  persons, 
if  they  place  their  hands  in  His  and  ask  to  be  led  ?  I  trust  He  will  thus  lead 
us  into  closer  fellowship  with  Flimself,  and  into  the  soul-sympathy  of  the 
community  at  large,  upon  whom  we  must  depend  for  material  aid,  and  thence 
into  a  new  and  more  suitable  sanctuary,  and  through  these  channels  to  glory  ! 

Amen. 

WOMAN'S  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY 

This  organization  has  been  in  existance  for  some  years,  and  has  always 
been  a  substantial  help  to  the  wfoman's  w^ork  in  a  financial  w^ay,  as  w^ell  as  an 
inspiration  to  the  congregation,  not  only  in  that  department  of  church  life  and 
labor,  but  also  in  every  other  way.  The  officers  are  these  :  President,  Mrs. 
Clara  M.  Brane ;  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Mary  Deysher ;  Secretary,  Mrs.  Clara 
Behm  ;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Howard  Wisler.  Collectors:  Mrs.  Goas,  Mrs.  Agnes 
Schaffer,  Mrs.  Howard  Davies,  Mrs.  Mary  Deysher.  There  are  about  thirty 
members  in  all. 

The  Young  Ladies'  Missionary  Society  has  about  tw^enty-five  members.  The 
officers  are  :  President,  Miss  Bessie  Snyder ;  Vice-President,  Miss  Beckie  Gehret ; 
Secretary,  Miss  Grace  M.  Brane  ;  Treasurer,  Miss  Jessie  M.  Brane.  Collectors, 
Miss  Carrie  Troutman,  Miss  Mary  Wisler,  Miss  Beckie  Gehret. 


UNITED      BRETHERN      CHURCH 


17 


REV.  J.  R.  MEREDITH 

w7\  HE  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Benvenue, 
^y  Dauphin  County,  Penn'a,  July  26,  1840;  and  a  few 
months  later  his  parents  moved  to  Powels  Valley, 
where  they  resided  until  1852,  when  they  moved  to  Mata- 
moras,  Dauphin  County,  Penn'a,  where  the  business  of 
general  merchandise  w^as  entered  upon.  Young  Meredith 
helped  his  father  in  the  store  until  he  was  1 4  years  old. 
Then  his  father  hired  him  to  a  boat  captain  as  a  driver, 
which  business  he  followed  for  eight  years.  He  also  worked 
on  a  farm.  His  educational  opportunities  were  very  limited, 
the  school  term  lasting  only  four  months.  But  the  boy  was 
fond  of  reading,  and  by  the  time  he  was  tw^enty-one  he  had  ^^^-  J-  ^-  Mereditli 

gained  a  large  stock  of  general  information.  In  1 859  an  aunt  took  young 
Meredith  to  Altoona,  w^here  he  became  the  pupil  of  Rev.  A.  H.  Sembower, 
who  is  now  a  resident  of  Reading.  The  following  spring  he  returned  to  his 
home,  and  was  employed  in  various  w^ays.  June  23,  1861,  he  married  Miss 
Mary  C.  Hiney,  and  soon  thereafter  went  to  teaching  school,  which  profession 
he  followed  for  several  years.  Mr.  Meredith  also  served  as  a  soldier  in  the 
Civil  War,  after  which  he  returned  to  Powels  Valley  and  went  to  keeping 
store.  While  thus  engaged,  he  felt  called  to  the  ministry,  and  was  licensed  in 
1868  at  Zion  U.  B.  Church,  Halifax  Circuit.  The  same  year  the  Presiding 
Elder,  Rev.  Ezekiel  Light,  sent  the  young  preacher  to  Lykens  Circuit  as  assis- 
tant to  Rev.  Simon  Noll.  In  1869  he  joined  the  Annual  Conference  at  Mt. 
Joy,  and  was  sent  to  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  thereafter  as  follows :  Manheim, 
Mt.  Joy,  Annville,  Grantville,  York,  Annville,  New  Holland,  Philadelphia, 
Steelton,  Highspire,  Reading  and  Myerstown.  Rev.  Meredith  is  now  living  in 
Reading,  and  is  enjoying  fairly  good  health.  He  is  a  member  of  Otterbein 
Church,  w^hich  congregation  he  served  as  pastor  for  six  years. 


MR.  AND  MRS.  THEODORE  DEYSHER 

These  two  persons  have  long  been  members  of  Otterbein  Church,  and 
are  still  active  in  their  relations  to  its  work  and  worship.  Theodore  Deysher, 
who  is  w^ell  known  in  the  city  of  Reading,  was  converted  January  8,  1  862,  in 
St.  Peter's  M.  E.  Church,  Reading,  and  five  years  later  he  and  his  wife  joined 
Otterbein  U.  B.  Church,  in  which  congregation  they  still  live  and  labor  for  the 
Master.  Mr.  Deysher  has  been  active  in  Christian  work  ever  since  his  con- 
version, and  has  held  almost  every  office  in  the  gift  of  the  church.  For  a 
period  of  forty-one  years  he  has  been  Superintendent  of  the  Primary  Depart- 
ment of  the  Sunday  School.  In  that  sort  of  work  he  takes  special  delight,  and 
has  probably  arranged  and  rendered  more  Sunday  School  entertainments  than 
any  other  man  in  town,  and  always  to  full  houses.  Best  of  all,  Mr.  Deysher's 
life  has  alw^ays  been  of  an  exemplary  character,  justifying  his  earnest  interest 

(c) 


HISTORICAL      SOUVENIR 


in  all  movements  of  moral  reform,  especially  the  temperance  cause.     Although 
he  is  not  physically  strong,  there  is  no  let-up  in  his  zeal  for  the  cause.     He  is 

one    of    the    oldest   and    most    honored 
officers  of  the  church. 

Mrs.  Theodore  Deysher  is  Treasurer 
of  the  Ladies'  Aid,  in  w^hich  Society  she 
has  also  served  as  President,  Secretary 
and  Collector.  She  is  a  well-knov/n,  hard- 
working member  of  the  congregation, 
and  is  a  life  member  and  a  life  director 
of  the  Woman's  Missionary  Society  of 
the  United  Brethren  Church,  and  also  an 
active  member  of  the  local  Society.  She 
has  done  much  hard  and  important  work 
for  the  church,  locally  and  at  large,  es- 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Theodore  Deysher  pecially    interested    in    primary   Sunday 

School  and  missionary  work.     She  is  a  trustee  of  the  parsonage. 


MR.  AND  MRS.  ZIEBER 
Henry  L.  Zieber  and  wife  were  charter  members  of  Otterbein  Church, 
and  are  still  living.  They  are  among  the  finest  people  of  Reading.  Mr.  Zieber 
was  born  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Ninth  and  Penn  Streets,  Reading,  Penn'a, 
May  I  1,  1836.  In  1851  he  was  converted  in  Salem  Evangelical  Church;  and 
three  months  later  he  was  received  into  Zion's  United  Brethren  Church  by 
Rev.  Simeon  Noll,  under  whose  powerful  sermons  and  pastoral  care  many 
were  brought  to  Christ  and  into  the 
Church.  At  that  time  the  Sunday  School 
held  two  sessions  each  Sabbath,  at  8.30 
a.m.  and  at  1.30  p.m.  Both  sessions  of 
the  school  were  well  attended.  Besides 
the  regular  church  and  Sunday  School 
services,  cottage  prayer  meetings  were 
frequently  held  and  largely  attended, 
their  songs  of  joy  and  shouts  of  praise 
sometimes  echoing  beyond  the  midnight 
hour.     Mr.  Zieber  remembers  those  oc- 

f    .  •   I      •  •  1     1-     I   1  Mr.  and  Mrs.   Henry  L,  Zieber 

casions  of  joy  with  increasing  dehght. 

In  1856  Miss  Annie  C.  Kuser  was  converted  under  Rev.  Joseph  Young's 
pastorate,  and  one  year  later  she  became  a  member  of  Zion's  U.  B.  Church. 
That  was  on  New  Year's  Eve,  1857.  That  was  "a  happy  new  year"  to  her! 
Just  seven  years  thereafter,  on  the  4th  of  February,  1 864,  Miss  Annie  Kuser 
became  the  wife  of  Henry  L.  Zieber  ;  and  from  that  day  to  this,  a  period  of 
forty-four  years,  these  tvs^o  have  w^alked  in  blessed  fellowship  w^ith  God  and 
each  other,  mutually  bearing  each  other's  burdens,  and  also  sharing  each  oth- 
er's joys.     May  their  evening  time  and  final  sunset  be  bright ! 


UNITED       BRETHREN      CHURCH 


19 


WILLIAM  H.  BOMGARDNER 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  William  H.  Bomgardner,  son  of  George  S.  and 
Margaret  Bomgardner,  was  born  in  East  Hanover  Township,  Lebanon  County, 
Penn'a,  October  1,  1852.  He  was 
converted  in  the  fall  of  1 866,  at 
Sherk's  old  meeting  house,  under 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Henry  Hack- 
man.  The  following  spring  he  was 
baptized,  w^ith  a  number  of  others, 
in  Bow  Creek,  near  Grantville, 
Dauphin  County,  Penn'a,  by  Rev. 
H.  V.  Mohn.  He  has  since  served 
in  almost  every  official  relation  in 
the  local  churches  with  which  he 
has  been  identified,  and  is  at  pres- 
ent a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees of  Otterbein  U.  B.  Church,  and 
is  also  Secretary  of  that  board.  He 
and  his  wife  and  two  children, 
Mary  and  Ruth,  are  faithful  mem- 
bers of  the  church.  As  life-long 
members  of  the  church  these  par- 
ents have  lived  and  labored  for  the 
cause  of  Christ,  and  have  served  in 
a  self-sacrificing  way  in  many  in- 
stances. May  they  and  their  dear 
children  all  reach  the  rest  at  last ! 


William  H.   Bomgardner 


Samuel  Wise 

the  loss  of  his  Wife. 


SAMUEL  WISE 

Samuel  Wise  was  born  and  reared  in  Reading, 
Penn'a,  and  was  brought  up  in  the  faith  of  the 
United  Brethren  in  Christ.  He  was  converted  in 
Hummelstown  about  the  year  1857,  and  some  time 
thereafter  returned  to  Reading  and  became  a  regu- 
lar attendant  at  Otterbein  Church.  In  1860  he 
married  Miss  Rachel  Sands,  and  soon  after  re- 
moved to  Ida  Grove,  Iowa,  w^here  he  lived  for 
nineteen  years.  Mr.  Wise  became  very  much  at- 
tached to  his  Ida  Grove  friends,  w^ho  also  esteemed 
him  very  highly.  As  a  token  of  their  love  and  high 
regard,  they  presented  him  with  a  very  valuable 
gold-headed  cane,  w^hich  he  admires  very  much. 
Soon  after  his  return  from  Iowa  Mr.  Wise  suffered 
Although  he  had  been  an  attendant  on  the  services  of 


20 


HISTORICAL      SOUVENIR 


the  church  for  many  years,  he  was  not  formally  received  into  the  church  until 
after  his  return  to  Reading,  in  1900,  since  which  time  he  has  been  a  stand-by 
in  the  congregation.  He  is  a  modest,  manly  member,  with  a  churchly  spirit, 
liberal  and  progressive  in  all  his  doings  in  the  church,  and  highly  esteemed 
by  all  who  know  him.  Moreover,  he  buys  and  reads  the  literature  of  the 
Church,  and  knows  something  about  her  work  and  worship. 

MICHAEL  SANDS 

Michael  Sands,  son  of  Aaron  and  Catharine  Sands,  was  born  in  Adams- 
town,  Lancaster  County,  Penn'a,  December  2,  1819.  He  married  Miss  Hannah 
Geensemer ;  and  several  years  later  (March  31,1  848) 
moved  to  Reading,  and  settled  on  the  river  front.  In 
1850,  just  two  years  after  he  came  to  Reading,  his 
wife  and  three  children  w^ere  drow^ned  in  the  Schuyl- 
kill during  a  freshet.  This  dreadful  sorrow  almost 
broke  his  heart,  and  led  him  to  seek  more  definitely 
the  comforts  of  religion  ;  and  in  the  course  of  a  few 
months  he  sought  and  found  the  Saviour,  and  straight- 
way became  a  member  of  the  little  church  known 
then  as  "Weidman's  Chapel,"  which  is  now^  Zion's  U. 
B.  Church,  the  oldest  society  of  our  denomination  in 
the  city.  In  the  social  circle  of  that  humble  church  he 
met  Miss  Sabilla  Graul,  one  of  the  most  modest  and 
devoted  members  of  that  congregation,  whom  he  mar- 
ried in  1  85  1 .  A  year  later  he  w^as  elected  a  member 
of  the  first  United  Brethren  board  of  trustees  in  the 
city  of  Reading.  In  1  866  he  became  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  Otterbein  U.  B.  Church,  and  also  served  that 
new^  congregation  as  a  trustee  and  as  a  member  of  the 
building  committee.  He  served  his  church  faithfully 
M,.  i,a.  I  Nin.is  ^j^j^  well,  and  was  a  devoted  Chris- 

tian to  the  day  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1872.  His 
son,  Mr.  Ephraim  Sands,  a  fine  man  and  a  faithful  Christian, 
is  a  member  of  his  father's  church  and  congregation. 

IRVIN  R.  KLINE 
This  face  is  a  familiar  one.  Mr.  Irvin  R.  Kline  is  the 
official  board  Treasurer,  and  is  one  of  the  most  faithful  and 
efficient  officers  of  the  church.  He  is  a  quiet,  earnest  Chris- 
tian, and  always  attends  to  his  official  duties,  and  "never 
misses  church."  He  is  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business. 
Like  his  father  before  him,  he  is  affectionately  concerned 
for  the  welfare  of  the  church,  and  exerts  a  good  influence 
in   the   community.     For  twenty-two   years   he   has  been  a  ''^'"  ^  '^''"'" 

member  of  Otterbein  Church.   He  is  still  active  and  painstaking  in  all  his  work. 


UNITED      BRETHREN      CHURCH 


21 


MR.  AND  MRS.  WALTER  BEHNEY 

G.  Walter  Behney,  Superintendent  of  Otterbein  Sunday  School,  was  born 
April  14,  1870,  at  Mt.  Nebo,  Lebanon  County,  Penn'a.  He  was  converted  in 
Salem     United     Brethren     Church, 


Lebanon,  Penn'a,  in  February,  1  < 
and  the  same  year  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Centenary  United  Breth- 
ren Church  in  Steelton,  Penn'a, 
w^hich  congregation  he  served  as 
President  of  the  Y.  P.  C.  U.,  Sunday 
School  teacher  and  church  organist. 
In  June,  1905,  he  came  to  Reading 
and  immediately  joined  Otterbein 
U.  B.  Church  by  certificate  ;  and  a 
little  later  he  Vi^as  elected  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday  School,  which 

position   he   still   holds.  Mr.  and  Mrs.   Walter  Behney 

On  the  27th  of  October,  1892,  Mr.  Behney  was  married  to  Miss  Clara 
F.  Hoopes,  who  has  proved  a  blessed  helpmeet  to  her  husband.  Last  year 
their  two  children,  Earl  and  Esther,  accepted  Christ  and  united  with  the 
church.  As  a  family  they  are  churchly  and  spiritual,  and  regular  in  their  at- 
tendance upon  the  services  of  the  sanctuary. 


TWO  BROTHERS 

These  tw^o  were  brothers.  Emerson  G.  Kline  w^as  born  May  21,  1842, 
and  died  August  5,  1894,  aged  52  years,  2  months  and  15  days.  He  was 
converted  and  joined  the  church  under  the  ministry  of  Rev.  H.  C.  Phillips  in 

1881,  and  continued  in  faithful  fellow^- 
ship  w^ith  the  church  thirteen  years. 
He  w^as  official  board  Treasurer  seven 
years,  and  also  served  the  church  as 
Stew^ard  and  Trustee.  His  widow, 
Mrs.  Lovenia  Kline,  and  several  of  his 
children,  Mrs.  Riffert,  Mrs.  Schetter 
and  Mr.  Irvin  R.  Kline,  are  members 
of  the  church. 

Mr.  Joseph  Kline  was  born  in  Baums- 
town,  Penn'a,  and  died  July  28,  1905, 
aged  6 1  years.  He  was  converted  and 
joined  the  church  during  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  H.  C.  Phillips,  and  remained 
a  faithful  member  and  Christian  to  the 
day  of  his  death,  having  served  the  congregation  as  Steward  and  Trustee. 
Being  a  good  man,  a  kind    father   and    husband,  he    is   greatly  missed   by  his 


Emerson  G.  Kline 


Joseph  Kline 


22 


HISTORICAL      SOUVENIR 


widow  and    daughter,  Mrs.  Catharine    Khne    and    Mrs.  Ella   Knipe,  and  other 
relatives  and  friends.     But  they  all  hope  to  meet  him  in  "Father's  house." 


DR.  MATHEWS 
Dr.  James  M.  Mathew^s,  probably  the  oldest  physician  in   Reading,  resid- 
ing at  I  38   North  Eighth  Street,  never  formally  joined  Otterbein  Church,  but 
in  every  practical  and  spiritual   respect  he   is  an  esteemed 
member  of  that  congregation.     Soon  after  the  v^riter  came 
to    this   parish,  more   than    two   years   ago,  he    became   ac- 
quainted with   Dr.  Mathews,  whose   great   age  and   serious 
illness  called  for  special   interest  and  sympathy  on  the  part 
^^^  V  .^^       of  the  pastor,  w^hose   ministry  was  constant  and   kind,  and 

■w!^  J^H  finally  led  to  his  public  avow^al  and  faith  in  Jesus  in  the  use 
^^H  of  the  Holy  Communion,  w^hich  sacramental  service  he 
^^Db^^^^^^  regularly  attends.  If  he  lives  till  February  22,  1909,  he 
^^^^^B^^^H  w^ill  be  92  years  old.  He  w^as  born  in  New^  Britian  Tow^n- 
^^B^^^^^H  ship,  Bucks  County,  Penn'a,  February  22,  1817.  in  1840 
^^l^^^^^^^l  he  removed  to  Flintw^ood,  Berks  County,  and  in  1 860  to 
Temple.  Since  1 895  he  has  lived  in  Reading.  He  is  a 
well-preserved  man,  notwithstanding  the  exposures  of 
thirty-five  years,  during  which  time  he  had  a  large  practice.  Intellectually 
cultivated  and  widely  read,  he  is  interesting  and  instructive  in  his  fellowship, 
and  exemplifies  an  up-to-date,  youthful  spirit.  His  wife  died  some  years  ago. 
To  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Mathew^s  eight  sons  w^ere  born,  five  of  w^hom  are  living.  Four 
are  physicians  of  prominence,  active  and  influential  in  their  professional  rela- 
tions.    Nearly  two    years   ago,  when    the    Doctor  was   ninety,  he    composed 

these  w^ords : 

WHEN 

I'm  very  old,  yet  would  not  die, 

And  have  my  bones  in  slumber  lie. 

Until  1  know  some  things  are  done 

Whose  doing  is  but  just  begun. 

I'd  like  to  know  our  eastern  sea 

Had  kissed  her  western  majesty 

At  Panama  and  Colon's  gate, 

And  let  our  ships,  both  small  and  great. 

Pass  through  Dame  Nature's  narrow  strait. 

Would  then  1  die  ?      Not  yet,  not  yet  ! 

My  heart  on  other  themes  is  set. 

I'd  like  to  see  the  airships  fly 

Athwart  the  clear  or  cloudy  sky. 

With  or  against  all  winds  that  blow. 

With  or  against  all  rains  and  snow  ; 

Sailing  through  the  angry  clouds. 

Bearing  safely  human  crowds 

From  place  to  place,  from  town  to  town. 

Now  high  aloft,  now  coming  down. 

Now  taking  on,  now  letting  go 

Its  hurrying  crowds  bent  to  and  fro. 


WOULD     DIE 

1  tell  you.  Cap,  I  must  be  there, 
By  2  o'clock  1  must  be  there. 
Some  hours  ahead  of  that  slow  poke 
That  belches  forth  its  cinder  smoke — 
The  iron  horse  whose  murderous  noise 
Kills  off  the  sick,  the  well  annoys. 
Some  better  is  the  trolley  ride. 
Ten  times  as  good  the  airship>s  glide. 
And  then  you'd  willing  die?     Not  1; 
You  soon  shall  see  v^rhen  1  would  die. 
1  want  to  see  all  w^arring  cease, 
1  want  to  see  the  reign  of  peace, 
1  want  to  see  "Thy  kingdom  come," 
The  thousands  years  millennium. 
Then  heaven  will  be  upon  this  earth 
And  every  creature  have  new  birth. 
Then,  sure,  you'd  willing  die  ?     But  why 
Would  one  in  glory  wish  to  die  ? 
O  ^vondrous,  wondrous  are  to  be 
The  achievements  of  futurity. 

December.  1906.  —J.  M.  M. 


UNITED      BRETHREN      CHURCH 


23 


%' 


THE  ASSOCIATE  PASTOR 

HIS  face  and  form  are  dear  to  the  Pastor. 

For  a  period  of  six  years  he  has  been 

my  closest  companion  in  the  home,  in 
the  study,  in  the  church  services,  and  in  my 
pastoral  visiting.  By  day  and  by  night  his 
little  hand  has  been  in  mine.  When  I  was 
sick,  he  helped  to  make  me  well ;  w^hen  I  was 
stricken  with  sorrow,  he  soothed  my  soul; 
w^hen  I  w^as  borne  to  the  earth  with  care,  he 
lightened  my  load ;  w^hen  I  w^as  tempted,  he 
succored  me.  Indeed,  he  has  been  my  good 
angel !  With  me  he  has  gone  into  the  man- 
sions of  the  rich  and  the  hovels  of  the  poor, 
and  visited  thousands  of  sick  and  sorrow^ing 
people,  supplementing  the  ministry  of  the 
Lord's  Prayer  and  the  Twenty-third  Psalm 
with  his  sw^eet  smiles  and  kisses.  From  his 
birth,  in  solemn  dedication  and  daily  prayer, 
he  has  been  given  to  God  and  the  Church  ! 
May  his  feet  never  wander  from  the  path  of 
the  Just.  My  highest  desire  concerning  him 
w^ould  be  realized  if  he  should  become  a  faith- 
ful minister  of  the  Gospel — the  hardest  but 
the  sweetest  w^ork  to  which,  in  the  providence 
of  God,  the  children  of  men  are  called. 

In  speaking  of  my  baby  boy  Mayor  Mar- 
quart,  of  Lebanon,  w^hose  pastor  I  w^as  for 
ten  blessed  years,  has  this  to  say :  "My  most 
distinct  recollections  of  Dennis  are  the  im- 
pressions he  made  upon  all  our  minds  in  the 
church  services.  He  alw^ays  came  w^ith  his 
father  to  prayer  meeting,  occupied  a  front 
seat,  and  seemed  to  take  as  much  interest  in  what  was  said  and  done  as  any 
of  the  older  persons  did.  Our  church  and  parsonage  being  connected.  Dr. 
Brane  always  entered  the  auditorium  near  the  pulpit,  immediately  in  front  of 
the  congregation  w^hile  they  stood  and  sang  an  inspiring  ascription  of  praise. 
Dennis  usually  entered  with  his  father  and  stood,  in  full  view  of  all  the  people, 
with  folded  hands  and  bow^ed  head  during  the  invocation,  after  w^hich  he  took 
his  seat  on  a  front  pew^,  w^here  he  remained  till  the  benediction  w^as  pro- 
nounced. At  the  close  of  the  service  he  w^as  alw^ays  cordially  greeted  by  the 
people,  especially  the  young  ladies,  w^ith  w^hom  he  w^as  a  favorite.  These 
acts  of  love  and  reverence  for  the  house  and   service   of  God   on  the  part  of 


The  Associate  Pastor 


24 


HISTORICAL      SOUVENIR 


one  so  tender  in  years  was  very  impressive,  and  vividly  recalled  the  Bible 
story  of  little  Samuel.  I  trust  that  his  reverence  for  God's  house  and  for  sacred 
things  will  increase  as  he  grows  older,  so  that  when  Dr.  Brane's  long  and 
faithful  ministry  is  over,  his  mantle  may  fall  upon  Dennis,  and  he  be  led  to 
carry  forward  this  blessed  v^ork  as  conscientiously  as  his  father  did." 


Jacob  Stoner 

children,  Erma 


JACOB  STONER 

Mr.  Jacob  Stoner  w^as  born  near  Safe  Harbor,  Lancaster 
County,  Penn'a,  October  16,  1838;  and  was  converted  and 
joined  Otterbein  U.  B.  Church  during  the  blessed  adminis- 
tration of  Rev.  Lewis  Peters  in  1 868.  He  is  now  one  of 
the  older  members  of  the  church,  and  considers  himself 
fortunate  in  having  enjoyed  her  fellow^ship  all  these  years. 
He  has  served  the  congregation  as  class  leader,  Trustee, 
Steward  and  Sunday  School  Superintendent.  Mr.  Stoner's 
life  has  been  a  credit  to  the  cause  of  religion,  and  his 
influence  in  the  church  has  been  good.  He  considers 
himself  a  typical  United  Brethren,  "all  wool  and  a  yard 
w^ide,"  and  is  increasingly  happy  as  the  shadows  of  life 
lengthen.  He  and  his  family  are  striving  for  a  better  in- 
heritance. His  son  Clay,  and  his  good  wife  and  dear 
and  Kise,  are  members  of  the  church  also. 


MRS.  DELIA  M.  HERNER 

Mrs.  Herner  has  been  in  faithful  fellowship  with  Otter- 
bein Church  ever  since  she  vv^as  a  tot  of  tw^o  years.  When 
she  was  only  eight  years  old  she  w^as  received  into  the 
church  by  Rev.  H.  C.  Phillips ;  and  from  that  day  to  this 
she  has  been  a  faithful  Christian  and  an  active  w^orker  in 
the  church  and  Sunday  School.  For  nine  years  she  served 
as  Secretary  of  the  Sunday  School  ;  and  she  is  nowr  serving 
her  second  year  as  Recording  Secretary  of  the  Berks 
County  Christian  Endeavor  Union.  In  this  sort  of  work 
Mrs.  Herner  is  especially  gifted  and  faithful.  Her  books 
are  well  kept  and  clearly  written.  She  and  her  mother, 
Mrs.  Shadell,  and  her  two  boys,  Clyde  and  Paul,  have  been 
reared  in  the  Sunday  School  and  church. 


Mrs.   Delia  M.   Herner 


MISS  BERTHA  NEIZEL 

Miss  Neizel  is  one  of  the  officers  of  the  church  and  Sunday  School  .She 
is  a  young  lady  of  wide  and  blessed  influence  in  the  congregation  and  in  the 
city.  Moreover,  she  is  active  and  enterprising  in  her  relations  to  Christian 
work  and  worship,  faithful  and  painstaking  in  all  her  efforts  to  be  good  and 
do  good.     She    has  comparatively  little   to   say,  but   her  life   is   an  illustrated 


UNITED      BRETHREN      CHURCH 


25 


sermon  on  holy  living ;  an  exemplification  of  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus.  Her 
godly  life  and  sweet  spirit  and  faithful  service  are  bound  to  bring  the  Master's 
plaudit,  "Well  done." 

ERMA  DAVIES 

Erma  Davies,  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lewis  O.  Da- 
vies,  is  one  of  our  interesting  "tots."  She  is  only  three 
years  old,  attends  church  and  Sunday  School,  and 
sometimes  "talks  out  in  meeting."  But  she  don't  dis- 
turb the  pastor,  who  is  always  glad  to  see  her.  She 
calls  him  "church." 

MISS  ESTHER  WERTS'  CLASS 

Allen  Diller,  Earl  Behney,  Merlin  Goas,  Paul 
Herner,  Howard  Wisler,  Hayes  Vernon,  L.  Kise  Sto- 
ner,  Charles  Zell,  E.  Harvey  Long. 

Erma  Davies 

THE  PARSONAGE 

This  is  a  picture  of  the  parsonage,  located 
at  519  North  Ninth  Street.  The  deed  was 
executed  on  the  3  I  st  of  March,  1887,  by  Sarah 
E.  Hoffman,  Mahlon  G.  Hoffman  and  Lucien 
Geiger,  executors  of  John  G.  Hoffman,  de- 
ceased, to  Jacob  Stoner,  Jacob  S.  Wisler,  Em- 
erson Kline,  Joseph  Kline  and  Abraham  Lan- 
dis,  trustees  of  Otterbein  U.  B.  Church,  for 
$2,500.  In  connection  with  a  gradual  increase 
in  the  value  of  the  property,  improvements  to 
the  extent  of  $1,500  have  been  added.  It  is 
splendidly  located  in  every  w^ay.  Of  the 
original  board  of  trustees  only  one  remains, 
Mr.  Jacob  Stoner. 

Every  church  and  parsonage  should  be 
v/ell  located,  attractive  and  convenient,  a  joy 
to  those  w^ho  use  it  and  a  credit  to  the  com- 
munity in  w^hich  it  is  situated.  Then  it  w^ill 
speak  in  terms  of  praise,  not  only  of  those 
w^ho  own  and  occupy  it,  but  also  of  the  cause 
for  which  it  stands.  Its  very  design,  in  point 
The  Parsonage  of  appearance  and  purpose,  should  be  pleas- 

ing and  persuasive,  tending  to  the  culture  of  head  and  heart.  Indeed,  every 
thing  we  look  upon  or  associate  with  is  educating  in  its  influence  and  effects. 
A  pure  rose  on  an  untidy  table  will  suggest  a  clean  cloth.  A  clean  cloth  v/ill 
demand  a  still  better  environment,  and  thus  the  good  work  will  go  on  to 
completion, 
(d) 


26 


HISTORICAL      SOUVENIR 


PARSONAGE  TRUSTEES 


4 

r 

f                  f        •^^'N 

CLASS  OK  MR.  SPA!/  AND  MISS  UKR  1 1  lA  NEIZEL 


UNITED      BRETHREN      CHURCH 


27 


mSS^ 


wtm 


28 


HISTORICAL      SOUVENIR 


AARON  STROHECKER 
Aaron  Strohecker  was  born  in  Reading,  Penn'a,  September  24,  1839,  and 
has  been  a  member  of  the  church   for   twenty-one   years.     His   conversion   in 

Otterbein  Church  w^as  very  clear  and  satis- 
factory, leaving  no  doubt  of  his  acceptance 
in  Jesus  Christ.  His  influence  as  a  Chris- 
tian is  truly  w^holesome  ;  and  his  devotion 
to  the  church  has  been  marked  by  an  in- 
telligent concern  for  all  her  interests.  His 
wife,  w^ho  appears  with  her  husband  in  the 
accompanying  cut,  w^as  also  an  earnest 
Christian.  She  was  a  true  helpmeet.  She 
was  the  daughter  of  Rev.  Jacob  S.  Gosler. 
They  were  married  July  4,  1 860,  by  Rev. 
J.  G.  Fritz,  since  w^hich  glad  occasion  they 
prayerfully  lived  for  God  and  each  other 
till  December  29,  1907,  when  she  fell 
asleep.  She  knew^  of  her  approaching  end, 
and  died  in  perfect  peace.  Just  a  few  days 
later  her  son-in-law,  Milton  F.  Bear,  was 
called  from  labor  to  reward.  For  Brother 
Strohecker  and  Sister  Bear  these  losses  w^ere 
hard  to  endure.  But  they  w^ill  soon  meet 
again. 

Mr.  Strohecker  -was  an  expert  swimmer  and  diver,  and  was  instrumental 
in  saving  ten  lives,  including  one  soldier.  The  saving  of  the  soldier  occurred 
at  Harrisburg  in   1862,  while  he  was  in  the  army. 

In  1850,  when  Mr.  Strohecker  w^as  still  in  his  "teens,"  there  vs^as  a  great 
freshet  in  the  Schuylkill  River,  and  Mrs.  Michael  Sands  and  three  of  her  chil- 
dren were  drowned.  Young  Strohecker  was  standing  at  the  foot  of  Sixth 
Street,  and  saw  Mrs.  Sands  drift  down  the  swollen  stream  on  a  feather-bed. 
She  waved  her  hand  for  help.  Abram  Homan  and  Nicholas  Burkhart 
wanted  to  take  a  boat  that  was  there  and  go  for  Mrs.  Sands,  but  the  man  who 
owned  the  boat  would  not  permit  them  to  use  it.  Strohecker  wanted  the  men 
to  take  the  boat  and  rescue  her.  Then  Mr.  Sands  himself  came  down  the 
stream,  and  Mr.  Strohecker  drew  him  out  and  saved  his  life. 

A  few  days  later  Mr.  Strohecker  was  at  High's  Woods,  and  swam  across 
to  the  island,  where  he  saw  a  little  white  hand  sticking  out  of  some  debris  that 
had  been  washed  there  during  the  freshet.  It  was  the  sweet  little  hand  of 
Mr.  Sands'  baby,  which  young  Strohecker  put  in  the  lid  of  an  old  trunk,  which 
he  used  as  a  boat,  and,  using  a  grape-vine  for  a  cable,  towed  it  up  the  canal 
to  "Jackson's  lot,"  where  he  placed  the  dead  child  in  the  care  of  Mrs.  Stott, 
who  took  it  to  the  bereaved  father  and  prepared  it  for  burial. 

So,  you  see,  young  Strohecker  saved  Mr.  Sands'  life,  and  subsequently 
restored  the  body  of  his  dead  baby  to  his  tender  care.     How  strange  is  life  ! 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Aaron  Strohecker 


UNITED      BRETHREN      CHURCH 


29 


WE  ARE  THREE 


Here  is  an  interesting  trio 
— Miriam,  Ruth  and  Naomi, 
daughters  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Joseph  Reist.  They  all  be- 
long to  the  church  of  Christ 
and  are  a  great  joy  to  their 
parents.  Some  four  years 
ago,  December  10,  1904, 
Miriam,  the  one  to  the  left, 
took  sick  and  died — was 
called  by  the  Good  Shep- 
herd to  the  safe  and  blessed 
fold  above.  But  Ruth  and 
Naomi  still  recall  her  sweet 
face  and  familiar  form,  and  so  do  they  all.     They  expect  to  meet  her  again. 


MISS  MARY  C.  WISE 

Miss  Wise  has  been  identified  with  Otterbein  Church 
for  some  years,  and  is  one  of  our  most  interested  and  active 
members.  She  is  one  of  the  Trustees  of  the  parsonage,  and 
also  one  of  the  Stewards,  in  both  of  w^hich  relations  she  has 
served  faithfully  and  well.  In  her  anxiety  for  the  welfare 
of  the  congregation  she  devises  liberal  things  for  the  Lord, 
both  in  money  and  in  labor.  Nothing  is  too  hard  for  her 
to  do.  In  the  Sunday  School  and  Ladies'  Aid,  and  Trustee 
meetings  and  church  services  her  seat  is  rarely  vacant. 


j^^^  JOHN  F.  HUMELSINE 

^^^B^^m  y\x.  Humelsine  w^as  born  in 

Chambersburg,  Penn'a,  Septem- 
ber  II,  1872,  and  was  brought 
up  in  the  faith  of  the  United  Brethren  Church.  On 
the  18th  of  September,  1894,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  T,  Weeks,  in  Hagerstown,  Md.,  by 
the  Rev.  A.  A.  Ayers.  Mrs.  Humelsine  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  Mrs.  Annie  Long,  who  formerly  lived  in  Ship- 
pensburg,  Penn'a,  but  is  now  a  resident  of  Reading 
and  a  worthy  member  of  Otterbein  Church.  About 
the  year  1902  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Humelsine  came  to 
Reading  and  joined  Memorial  U.  B.  Church.  In 
1905  they  transferred  their  membership  to  Otter- 
bein, in  whose  communion  they  have  each  led   an 


John  F.  Humelsine 


30 


HISTORICAL      SOUVENIR 


active,  useful  life.  Mr.  Humelsine  is  the  President  of  the  Ushers'  League,  and 
is  popular  with  the  young  men  of  the  church.  Mrs.  Humelsine  is  Assistant 
Organist  in  the  Sunday  School,  and  is  active  in  the  vv^ork  of  the  church. 

MR.  AND  MRS.  LONG 

Mr.  George   Elmer  Long  was  born  in  Dauphin  County,  Penn'a,  October 
11,1 864 ;   and    twenty-two    years   later,  on    the  1  1  th    of   September,   1 886,  he 

married  Miss  Alice  M.  Long, 
Rev.  Isaac  Bagley,  of  Cam- 
den, New^  Jersey,  being  the 
officiating  clergyman.  A 
year  later  Mr.  Long  and  his 
wife  were  converted  and 
joined  the  United  Brethren 
Church  at  Royalton,  Penn'a, 
under  Rev.  H.  D.  Lehman. 
In  1  892  they  came  to  Read- 
ing, Penn'a,  and  identified 
themselves  w^ith  what  is 
now  called  Memorial  U.  B. 
Church,  Buttonwood  and 
McKnight  Streets,  where 
they  served  efficiently  for  several  years.  On  the  29th  of  September,  1907, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Long,  and  their  son  Harvey  united  with  Otterbein  U.  B.  Church. 
Mr.  Long  is  an  officer  in  the  Sunday  School,  and 
the  family  are  all  regular  in  their  attendance  at  all 
the  services. 

Their  son  Harvey  is  gifted  in  a  musical  way, 
and  plays  beautifully.  If  he  gives  himself  com- 
pletely to  this  charming  accomplishment,  and  avails 
himself  of  a  thorough  training,  he  will  certainly 
do  well.  At  Mr.  Sterner's  birthday  surprise  party 
he  entertained  the  large  company  most  delightfully 
with  selections  on  the  piano. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Long 


MR.  AND  MRS.  FORD 

Mr.  Edward  F.  Ford  is  a  "railroad  man,"  and  is 
at  the  very  time  when  he  woul 


^:M 


E.   Harvey  Long 


often  "called  out"  at  the  very  time  when  he  would 
like  to  go  to  church  ;  but  he  quietly  keeps  company  with  the  Master,  whether 
at  home  or  "on  the  road,"  and  thus  pursues  the  path  of  the  just.  His  wife, 
Mrs.  Laura  Ford,  is  also  an  earnest  Christian,  full  of  zeal  for  the  furtherance 
of  the  Gospel,  especially  in  a  missionary  sense  and  in  foreign  lands.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Ford  and  their  little  daughter,  Elizabeth,  are  highly  esteemed  in  the 
church  and  Sunday  School  to  which  they  belong ;  and  their  influence  is  re- 
sponsive to  the  cause  of  Christ. 


UNITED      BRETHERN      CHURCH 


31 


SIRE  AND  SON 

Mr.  Jacob  S.  Wisler  was  born 
in  White  Oak,  Lancaster  County, 
Penn'a,  October  9,  1  844,  and  came 
to  Reading  in  1  864.  On  September 
28,  1865,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  C.  Sands  by  Rev.  Brew^er  at 
Hummelstown.  In  1  865  he  entered 
upon  the  manufacture  of  cigars, 
and  continued  in  that  business  till 
his  death,  which  occurred  June  1  8, 
1 894.  Mr.  Wisler  was  converted 
in  the  fall  of  1  867,  under  Rev.  Lewis 
Peters,  and  joined  Otterbein  U.  B. 
Church.  He  w^as  a  useful  man  in 
the  church,  and  served  in  various 
official  capacities:  General  Steward, 
Church  Treasurer,  and  also  served 
the  Conference  as  Treasurer.  His 
widow^,  Mrs.  Mary  Wisler,  still  lives 
in  the  enjoyment  of  fair  health  and 
regularly  attends  the  services  of  the 
sanctuary.  She  is  spending  her  re- 
maining days  pleasantly  with  her 
daughter,  Mrs.  L.  J.  Coyle,  and  her 
son  Charles,  both  of  whom  are 
members  of  the  church. 

Mr.  Howard  W.  Wisler  is  a  son  of 
Jacob  S.  Wisler,  and  has  been  prom- 
inent in  the  affairs  of  the  church 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  w^as 
converted  in  1 882  under  Rev.  H. 
C.  Phillips,  and  joined  church  the 
same  year.  Since  then  he  has  been 
active  in  the  work  of  the  churchy 
serving  in  almost  every  official  ca- 
pacity— Chorister,  General  Steward, 
Delegate  to  Conference,  Treasurer 
and  President  of  the  Young  Peo- 
ple's Society  of  Christian  Endeavor. 
He  has  lots  of  push  and  enterprise 
in  his  church  life,  and  is  one  of  the 
hardest  w^orkers  that  the  congrega- 
tion  has.       On   the    24th    of   June, 


Jacob   S.   Wisler 


Howard  W.  Wisler 


32 


HISTORICAL      SOUVENIR 


1890,  Mr.  Wisler  was  married  to  Miss  C.  Geneva  Maitland  by  Rev.  I.  Baltzell. 
To  these  parents  were  born  two  children,  Mary  W.  and  "Little  Howard,"  as  his 
mother  affectionately  calls  him,  both  of  whom  have  been  brought  up  in  the 
church.  Mrs.  Wisler  is  a  quiet  Christian  lady  of  deep  piety,  an  ideal  house- 
keeper and  a  real  helpmeet.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Parsonage 
Trustees,  Treasurer  of  the  Woman's  Missionary  Society,  and  quietly  aids  all 
the  other  organizations  of  the  congregation.  Her  larger  ministry  is  in  the 
home,  where  she  combines  the  qualities  of  Mary  and  Martha. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCarty 


MR.  AND  MRS.  McCARTY 

Abraham  McCarty  was  born  in  Lancaster  County,  Penn'a,  September  10, 
I860.     He   and   Mrs.  McCarty  were  married   December  12,   1878,  by  Rev.  A. 

W.  Warfel.  About  twenty 
years  ago  they  were  con- 
verted near  Intercourse  and 
joined  the  old  Monterey 
Church.  Later  they  came 
to  Hinkletown,  and  thence, 
in  1907,  to  Reading.  Jan- 
uary the  5th,  1908,  they 
transferred  their  member- 
ship from  Ephrata  to  Otter- 
bein,  where  they  are  loved 
and  appreciated  by  the 
whole  church.  Their  daugh- 
ter and  son-in-law^,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Weinhold,  are  also 
members  of  the  congregation.  May  their  joy  and  usefulness  increase  as  the 
years  go  by ! 

REV.  J.  B.  FUNK 

This  minister  was  the  fifth  pastor  of  Otterbein  Church,  having  served 
from  1878  to  1880.  It  was  under  his  di- 
recting hand  that  the  old  chapel  was  re- 
modeled and  enlarged.  Rev.  and  Mrs. 
Funk  are  old  friends  of  the  writer,  who 
learned  to  know  them  when  he  was  a  boy 
preacher.  Mr.  Funk  is  a  native  of  Virginia 
and  Mrs.  Funk  of  Maryland.  I  once  served 
Brother  Funk  as  Presiding  Elder,  right  on 
the  summit  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains, 
and    ate    buckwheat   cakes   with    him.      He 

,    ,  ,  Rev.  J.  B.  Funk  and  Wife 

sent  me  one  after  1  returned  home.     It  was 

a  "whopper."  My!  Well,  well,  that  was  in  1875.  How  time  flies,  and  how 
soon  we  grow  old.  Of  course,  we  do  not  grow  old  in  spiril.  Only  in  years 
and  in  physical  infirmities. 


UNITED      BRETHREN      CHURCH 


33 


i                            \ 

^^.    ;:^  <?^i 

A^; 

^^|cL^ 

^j 

Rev.  J.  S.  Gosler 


REV.  JACOB  S.  GOSLER 

Mr.  Gosler  was  born   December  5,  1807,  and   died  April   26,   1882.     On 
the  6th  of  July,   1827,  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Moyer.     He  was  one  of  the 

most  active  and  influential  members  of  Zion 
U.  B.  Church,  South  Ninth  Street,  sixty  years  ago. 
Mr.  Gosler  w^as  the  first  Superintendent  of  Zion 
Sunday  School,  and  also  one  of  the  original 
Board  of  Trustees.  In  my  intercourse  with  the 
aged  members  and  friends  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren Church  in  Reading,  1  hear  him  more  fre- 
quently and  tenderly  spoken  of  than  any  one 
else.  He  is  said  to  have  possessed  a  meek  and 
quiet  spirit,  an  affectionate  nature,  a  lovely  char- 
acter and  a  holy  zeal  for  souls,  and  usually  w^on 
for  Christ  those  Vk^ith  w^hom  he  mingled.  His 
sermons  w^ere  models  of  spiritual  sw^eetness  and 
power,  and  his  matter  was  always  sound  and 
sensible.  In  prayer  he  w^as  especially  gifted,  of- 
ten moving  the  whole  audience  to  tears  by  his 
touching  appeals  to  God  for  spiritual  grace  and 
power,  as  he  also  did  by  his  melting  Gospel  ser- 
mons, some  of  w^hich  w^ere  aglovs^  w^ith  an  holy 
unction.  To  some  of  his  children  and  grand- 
children the  same  spirit  of  grace  and  goodness  has  been  given.  In  the  hearts 
of  his  son  Jacob  and  the  late  Mrs.  Margaret  Strohecker  the  same  Saviour  of 
love  v/as  born.  On  the  anniversary  of  his  seventy-second  birthday,  December 
5,  1879,  his  children,  grandchildren  and  great-grandchildren  tendered  him  a 
birthday  surprise  party.  They  met  at  the  home  of  Brother  Aaron  Strohecker, 
125  Rose  Street,  and  from  there  they  w^ent  in  a  body  to  the  minister's  home, 
1  1  7  North  Third  Street.  When  the  large  company  had  entered  and  packed 
the  parlor,  Rev.  Gosler  w^as  called.  When  he  opened  the  door  and  saw  a 
sea  of  upturned  faces,  each  one  reflecting  the  sunshine  of  love  and  good 
cheer,  the  aged  man  vv^as  so  overcome  that  he  could  not  speak.  His  lips 
quivered  and  the  big  tears  ran  dov^n  over  his  face  !  His  cup  ran  over.  He 
was  overcome  with  joy.  Finally  he  said,  "Let  us  pray."  He  led  in  prayer, 
and  such  a  prayer  as  he  made  !  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  no  one  present  will 
ever  forget  it.  Then  Rev.  David  Hoffman,  also  of  precious  memory,  delivered 
a  beautiful  address  in  behalf  of  the  company,  about  fifty  in  all,  presenting 
their  love  and  greetings  and  good  wishes  to  the  faithful  minister.  A  blessed 
social  season  follov/ed. 

While  Rev.  Gosler  vs^as  conducting  a  feet-washing  service  in  the  barn  of 
Rev.  Solomon  Weidman  at  Sinking  Spring,  a  singular  interruption  occurred. 
The  barn  was  crov/ded  w^ith  people,  it  being  the  annual  Whitsuntide  meeting, 
and  the  children  w^ere  given  seats  in  the  hay-mow  to  make  room  for  older 
persons  on  the  barn  floor.  Just  w^hen  the  meeting  reached  the  climax  of  in- 
(e) 


34 


HISTORICAL      SOUVENIR 


terest  a  large  portion  of  hay,  upon  which  the  children  were  seated  in  the 
mow,  slumped  down,  children  and  all,  upon  the  heads  of  the  people  and 
ended  the  service. 

REV.  SOLOMON  WEIDMAN 

Rev.  Solomon  Weidman,  son  of  Rev.  Joseph  Weid- 
man,  was  born  in  Brecknock  Township,  Berks  County, 
Penn'a,  February  13,  1807,  and  died  at  Sinking  Spring 
January  27,  1871.  He  pioneered  the  cause  of  United 
Brethrenism  in  the  city  of  Reading  seventy-five  years 
ago,  and  became  the  founder  of  Zion's  U.  B.  Church  on 
South  Ninth  Street.  He  erected  a  small  frame  chapel 
on  the  rear  of  the  lot  on  which  the  church  now  stands, 
and  paid  for  it.  Rev.  B.  B.  Weidman,  of  Sinking  Spring, 
is  a  son  of  Rev.  Solomon  Weidman, 
making  the  third  minister  in  the  line 
Rev.  Solomon  Weidman  of  descent  from  a  noble  sire— grand- 
father, father  and  son. 

MR.  MARK  R.  QUINTER 

Mr.  Quinter  is  one  of  Reading's  up-to-date  barbers. 
He  came  from  Schuylkill  Haven  more  than  a  year  ago,  and 
joined  Otterbein  Church.  On  the  1  7th  of  November,  1908, 
he  was  married  by  Rev.  Dr.  C.  I.  B.  Brane,  to  Miss  Mary  N. 
Reppert,  also  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  at  their  new  home,  1  1  2 
Oley  Street.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Quinter  are  fine  young  people, 
churchly  and  pious,  and  promise  to  be  stand-bys  in  the 
church  through  the  years  to  come. 


Mark  R.   Quinter 


W.  D.   B.  Spatz 


WILSON  D.  B.  SPATZ 

Mr.  Spatz  was  born  at  Temple,  Berks 
County,  Penn'a,  August  5,  1872;  and  on  the 
24th  of  December,  1 898,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Bessie  S.  Hunsberger,  at  the  parsonage 
of  the  Reformed  Union  Church  at  Tuckerton, 
Penn'a,  by  Rev.  Danner.  He  was  converted 
during  the  winter  of  1902,  and  joined  Otter- 
bein Church  on  Easter  morning,  Rev.  J.  R. 
Meredith  being  the  pastor.  Mr.  Spatz  is  one 
of  the  Trustees  of  the  church,  and  teaches  an 
Intermediate  class  of  young  ladies  numbering 
twenty  members.  Mrs.  Spatz  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  church.  The  children,  five  in  num- 
ber, are  bright  and  promising,  and  a  joy  to 
the  parents. 


UNITED      BRETHREN      CHURCH 


35 


THEY  COME  NO  MORE 
Mrs.  Clara    Hurst   comes   no    more  to  church,  because 
she   is   afflicted   with    rheumatism.      Mrs.  Hurst    is    a    true 
Christian  and  a  faithful  member  of  the  church.      She  would 
gladly  come  to  the  services  if  she  could.     The  pastor  visits 
her   often    because   she   is  so  pain- 
fully   afflicted.     The    Lord    is    her 
Shepherd. 

Mrs.  Julia  A.  Spears,  nee  Yeagley, 
came  to  Reading  about  I  868  from 
Womelsdorf,  and  entered  Otterbein 
Church  during  Rev.  Peters'  pastor- 
ate. She  has  been  true  and  faith- 
ful to  God   and  the  church,  and   is 


Mrs.  Julia  A.  Spears 


Mrs.  Clara  Hurst 

too  feeble  to  attend  the  services  of  the  church.  But 
she  is  happy  and  hopeful  in  the  faith  of  the  Son  of 
God,  who  is  w^ith  her  still. 


This  faithful  member  only  gets  to   church  occa- 
sionally, because  she  is    not  well  and    has    far  to  the 

Ijr ^— ^^1    church.     But  her  heart  is  there 

K  a^H     Gvery     Sunday.      Mrs.     Russel, 

W  y**""***^  '"^^^^l  whose  maiden  name  was  Woot- 
ten,  came  from  England  to 
Reading  when  she  was  a  child. 
She  joined  the  church  under 
Rev.  Peters,  and  has  been  faith- 
ful to  her  vow^s.  She  was  very 
good  to  her  parents,  as  she  is 
to  everybody.  She  is  the  wife 
of  Samuel  Russel. 


Mrs.  Betty  Russel 


Mrs.  Elizabeth  L.  Zell 


to  Father's  house 
beth  L.  Zell  w^as  a  charter  member 
of  Otterbein  Church,  and  died 
January  21,  1905.  She  was  faith- 
ful to  the  last. 

These  two  were  prominent 
members  of  the  congregation 
years  ago.  Mr.  Lessig  was  one 
of  the  Trustees  to  whom  the  deed 
of  the  church  property  was 
made. 


This  one  comes  no  more  because 
Mrs.   Eliza- 


she  has  gone  home 


Sarah  Lessig 


36 


HISTORICAL      SIOUVENIR 


"**^  Sarah  Lessig,  his  faithful  wife,  also  served  well  in 
her  day  and  generation.  They  have  gone  to  their  re- 
ward in  heaven.  Mrs.  Sallie  Lessig,  one  of  our 
most  faithful  members,  is  the  daughter-in-law  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Lessig. 

This  dear  young  man,  Harry  E.  Wolfskill,  died  un- 
expectedly soon.  He  w^as  formerly  a  member  of  our 
church  and  Sunday  School,  and  was  loved  by  all  who 
knew  him.  But  he  was  a  model  Christian,  and  there- 
fore ready  when  the  Master  called.  They  miss  him 
at  home. 

MISS  ALBERTA  LOOSE 


Harry  E.  Wolfskill 

Miss  Loose  is  the  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  A. 
Loose,  and  has  been  a  Christian  from  childhood.  As  a 
church  member  she  is  careful  and  conscientious,  and  tries 
hard  to  exemplify  the  spiritual  meaning  of  her  profession. 
She  is  an  official  member  of  the  church,  and  one  of  the 
best  teachers  in  the  Sunday  School,  w^here  she  has  a  fine 
Junior  class  of  tw^enty-flve  girls,  each  of  w^hom  she  loves 
and  looks  after  most  faithfully.  Indeed,  no  one  can  do 
more  than  she  strives  to  achieve  for  her  scholars,  both  in- 
dividually and  as  a  class.  Then,  too,  her  example  is  good 
and  her  influence  constraining.  It  is  pleasant  to  see  her 
surrounded    by   her   "girls,"    especially   when    each    one    is 


Mrs.  Maria  Smith  Craumer 


Miss  Alberta  Loose 

"hanging  on  her  words"  in  class.  During  her 
father's  absence  from  home  Miss  Loose  is  a 
great  comfort  to  her  invalid  mother,  who  knows 
what  affliction  means. 

MRS.  MARIA  SMITH  CRAUMER 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in 
Beaver  Township,  Snyder  County,  Penn'a,  in 
1837.  Soon  thereafter  her  parents  moved  to 
Middleburg,  Penn'a,  w^here  she  w^as  reared. 
She  w^as  converted  at  a  camp-meeting  near 
Middleburg  in  1852,  and  immediately  joined 
the  United  Brethren  Church  under  the  ministry 
of  Rev.  L.  W.  Craumer,  to  w^hom  she  w^as 
married  in  1854  by  Rev.  Jacob  Doerkson, 
who  was  a  great  preacher  and  a  fine  man. 
Rev.  Craumer  was  sent  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  soon 
after  his  marriage,  for  a  double  purpose — to 
open  a  German  mission  and  edit  the  Botschafter. 


UNITED      BRETHREN      CHURCH 


37 


Thereafter  Rev.  Craumer  served  many  important  charges,  including  a  term  of 
six  years  as  Presiding  Elder.  In  1  89  1  his  health  failed  and  his  active  ministry 
ceased.  But  just  where  he  laid  down  the  work  his  faithful  wife  took  it  up, 
and  has  served  with  increasing  faithfulness  and  efficiency  from  that  day  to 
this.  She  was  the  first  President  of  the  Woman's  Missionary  Branch  of  the 
East  German  Conference,  which  was  organized  by  Mrs.  Billheimer  in  Balti- 
more, Md.,  in  1879.  Mrs.  Craumer  was  one  of  the  pioneer  missionary  workers 
of  our  church.  She  served  several  terms  as  President  of  the  Branch,  as  Vice- 
President,  as  Delegate  to  the  Board  meetings  in  Ohio,  Iowa,  Maryland  and 
Pennsylvania,  and  is  still  associated  with  the  general  and  local  work,  giving 
inspiration  to  those  who  now  bear  the  banner  that  she  placed  in  their  hands 
a  few^  years  ago. 

Moreover,  Mrs.  Craumer  has  been  equally  active  in  the  temperance  cause, 
having  served  officially  in  the  Women's  Christian  Temperance  Union,  the 
Good  Templars  and  the  King's  Daughters.  Indeed,  she  has  been  associated 
with  the  organized  influence  of  almost  every  gracious  institution.  She  is  an 
honored  member  of  Zion  U.  B.  Church,  this  city,  and  is  pleasantly  passing 
her  closing  years  with  her  son,  Mr.  Harry  S.  Craumer.  Soon  the  Master  will 
say,  "Well  done." 

MR.  LEVI  HIGH 

Mr.  Levi  High  was  born  near  Williamsport,  Penn'a,  and  was  converted 
at  his  home  in  this  city  while  engaged  in  reading.  He  joined  Otterbein  U.  B. 
Church  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  M.  P. 
Doyle  in  1887,  since  w^hich  time  he  has  been 
a  faithful  member  of  the  congregation.  He 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 
for  some  years,  and  serves  the  church  other- 
wise in  official  relations.  Aside  from  the 
helpfulness  of  his  daily  v/alk  and  conversa- 
tion, Mr.  High's  church-going  habit  is  an  in- 
spiration to  pastor  and  people.  He  and  Mrs. 
High  are  invariably  in  their  pew  on  Sunday, 
morning  and  evening,  winter  and  summer, 
through  storm  and  sunshine.  Their  interest 
in  the  church  increases  as  the  years  come  and 
go,  and  soon  the  Master  will  say  it  is  enough. 

HARRY  K.  SHAEFFER  AND  WIFE 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shaeffer  came  to  Reading 
from  Lancaster  County  a  few  years  ago.  Mr. 
Shaeffer  is  a   P.  &  R.  conductor.     More  than  Mr.  Levi  High 

two  years  ago  he  was  seriously  injured  on  the  road  and  spent  a  year  in  the 
hospital.  He  is  now  able  for  his  usual  trips.  His  faithful  wife,  who  was  Miss 
Harriet  Young,  came  from  one  of  our  best  families  in  Manheim.  They  have 
two  children,  Irene  and  Clarence.  These  parents  joined  Otterbein  April  5,  1908. 


38 


HISTORICAL      SOUVENIR 


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UNITED      BRETHREN      CHURCH  39 

SOME  MEMBERS  OF  THE  USHERS  LEAGUE 


President,  John  F.  Humelsine ;  Vice-President,  Adam  M.  Behm  ;  Secre- 
tary, James  R.  Werts ;  Treasurer,  Lewis  O.  Davies.  Members,  Howard  S. 
Sterner,  Walter  F.  Sterner,  Roy  O.  Bomgardner,  Roscoe  H.  Brane,  C.  Walter 
Moyer,  Raymond  V.  B.  Strausser,  Mark  R.  Quinter,  Hilbert  G.  Diller,  Noah 
Good,  William  I.  Kline,  Earl  R.  Kline,  E.  Harvey  Long,  Kise  Stoner,  Charles 
Zell  and  Howard  Wisler.  The  League  meets  the  first  Monday  evening  of 
each  month  for  the  transaction  of  business,  when  each  Usher  receives  some 
special  assignment  for  service  for  that  month. 

THE  STERNERS 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank  Sterner  are  among  our  most  substantial  members ; 
and  their  children,  William,  Walter,  Howard  and  Russel,  are  all  interested  in 
the  congregation,  the  two  latter,  Howard  and  Russel,  being  members  also. 
Parents  and  children  are  religiously  faithful  and  worthy.  They  came  to  Ot- 
terbein  some  years  ago  from  Trinity  Church,  Lebanon,  where  their  present 
pastor  went  in  and  out  among  them,  and  then,  as.  now,  received  the  greatest 
kindness  at  their  hands,  including  an  occasional  loaf  of  home-made  bread, 
which  Mrs.  Sterner  knows  how  to  prepare  and  bake.  Howard  and  Walter 
belong  to  the  Ushers  League,  and  are  otherwise  helpful  to  the  church. 

OUR  "SHUT-INS" 

I  wish  all  our  people  were  well  in  body,  but  my  wish  does  not  make  it 
so.  It  is  hard  to  be  afflicted.  Indeed,  it  is  hard  for  those  who  are  perfectly 
well  to  see  the  painful  afflictions  of  others.     The  following  of  our  number  are 


40 


HISTORICAL      SOUVENIR 


"shut  in"  by  reason  of  sickness.  Some  of  them  will  soon  be  out,  we  hope  ; 
others  will  not  get  well :  Mrs.  Emma  Kline,  Mrs.  Clara  Hurst,  Miss  Annie  E. 
Neizel,  Mrs.  Ida  Heim,  Mrs.  Rachel  Bowers,  Mrs.  Rebecca  Bingaman,  Mrs. 
Annie  Werts,  Mrs.  Emma  Loose  and  Mrs.  Henry  Zieber. 


THE  DAVIES  FAMILY 

There  are  three  generations  of  the  Davies  family  connected  with  Otter- 
bein  Church.     Mr.  Howard  Davies  was  converted  January  1 ,  1  868,  and  joined 

the  church  the  following 
Sunday,  w^hich  w^as  the  first 
Sunday  in  January,  1 868. 
His  wife,  Mary  L.  Davies, 
nee  Ranck,  joined  the  con- 
gregation by  certificate  from 
the  U.  B.  Church  at  Inter- 
course, Penn'a,  of  w^hich 
she  had  been  a  member 
from  childhood,  in  1873. 
Lewis  Oliver  Davies,  their 
son,  w^as  converted  during 
Rev.  H.  C.  Phillips'  admin- 
istration at  the  tender  age 
of  seven  years,  and  w^as  re- 
ceived into  the  church  by 
Rev.  M.  P.  Doyle  in  1885. 
Another  son,  Chas.  Ranck 
Davies,  who  died  October 
21,1 889,  was  also  converted  and  joined  church  at  the  same  time.  Annie 
Debinder  Davies,  wife  of  Mr.  Lewis  O.  Davies,  joined  Otterbein  Church  by 
certificate  from  Grace  Evangelical  Church  in  1900.  Their  children,  Herbert 
W.  and  Erma  Lee  Ella,  are  regular  attendants  of  the  church  and  Sunday 
School.  Mr.  Howard  Davies  has  served  as  teacher.  Librarian,  Secretary 
(Quarterly  Conference  and  Sunday  School),  Steward  and  class  leader.  His 
wife  has  been  active  and  useful  in  the  Ladies  Aid  and  Woman's  Missionary 
Societies,  serving  as  Treasurer.  She  is  Vice-President  of  the  Ladies  Aid  So- 
ciety, and  a  willing  all-around  worker  for  the  church.  Mr.  Lewis  O.  Davies 
was  Sunday  School  Secretary  for  some  years,  and  is  now  the  Treasurer  of  the 
Ushers  League.  Mrs.  Lewis  O.  Davies  is  a  faithful  worker  wherever  she  can 
help  the  cause.  She  is  a  quiet  woman  with  many  home  cares,  as  all  mothers 
are,  but  manages  to  attend  most  of  the  church  and  Sunday  School  services, 
including  the  midweek  prayer  meeting.  By  the  way,  how  much  good  we  all 
may  do  by  simply  giving  the  sanctuary  services  the  benefit  of  our  presence. 
What  an  influence  our  mere  presence  at  the  sanctuary  exerts  on  others,  even 
though  our  home  duties  prevent  us  from  assuming  prominence  in  the  work  of 
the  church. 


The  Davies  Family 


UNITED      BRETHREN      CHURCH 


41 


MR.  SMITH  AND  MISS  BUTTS'  CLASS 


MISS  LOOSE'S  CLASS 

Edith  P.  Berg,  Helen  C.  Reeser,  Minnie  F.  Good,  Anna  Shade,  Edna  Scott,  Emma  Martin, 
Bessie  Gresh,  Larans  RiflFert,  Etta  M.  Brane,  Margaret  C.  Goas,  Erma  W.  Stoner,  Wyria  H.  Heff- 
ner,  Ruth  E.  Reist,  Ivy  Leibelsperger,  Lizzie  Pick,  Marie  S.  Schearer,  Katharine  M.  Herm,  Sallie 
S.  Hughes,  Edna  M.  Heffner,  Alberta  M.  Loose. 

(f) 


42 


HISTORICAL      SOUVENIR 


MR.  ADAM  M.  BEHM 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  and  raised  in  Annville,  Penn'a,  where 
he  w^as  converted  and  joined  the  church  during  a  series  of  meetings  in  that 
town  in  1884.  In  the  year  1889,  on  the  12th  of 
June,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Clara 
V.  R.  Mark  by  Rev.  Job  Light.  Ten  years  later 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Behm  came  to  Reading,  and 
straightway  transferred  their  membership  to  Ot- 
terbein  U.  B.  Church,  where  they  still  work  and 
worship.  Mrs.  Behm  is  a  daughter  of  the  late 
Rev.  J.  H.  Mark,  and  is  a  parsonage  trustee  and 
an  officer  in  the  Woman's  Missionary  Society. 
Mr.  Behm  has  been  a  Sunday  School  teacher. 
Secretary  of  the  Quarterly  Conference,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  church  Trustees  and  Vice-Presi- 
dent of  the  Ushers  League.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Behm 
are  among  the  more  active  members  of  the  con- 
gregation, taking  part  in  all  the  activities  of  the 
church,  including  the  special  doings  of  the  several 
societies,  and   are  rarely  absent  from  church  or  Adam  M.  Behm 

Sunday  School  services,  except  on  account  of  sickness.     They  have  one  child, 
but  he  is  in  heaven. 

THE  EDES  FAMILY 

Mrs.  Caroline  Edes  and  her  two 
children,  Oliver  L.  and  Esther,  were 
among  the  most  active  and  faithful  mem- 
bers of  Otterbein  Church  some  years 
ago.  They  w^ere  very  hospitable  people, 
and  often  constrained  poor  or  strange 
people  who  attended  the  services  of  the 
church  to  go  home  with  them  for  a  meal. 
They  were  also  very  helpful  in  their 
counsel  to  penitents  during  revival  meet- 
ings, and  in  looking  after  the  interests  of 
young  converts,  many  of  whom  they 
saved  to  Christ  and  the  church.  Mr. 
Oliver  Edes  was  a  Trustee  of  the  church, 
and  also  led  the  congregation  in  singing. 
Miss  Esther  was  a  fine  Sunday  School 
teacher  and  a  sweet  singer.  Their  home 
was  ideal.  They  were  affectionate,  kind- 
hearted  and  true  to  each  other  and  to 
everybody.  Rev.  Lewis  Peters  and  many 
1  he  Kdes  Family  others  could  ncvcr  forget  their  hospital- 


UNITED      BRETHREN      CHURCH  43 

ity,  nor  Mother  Edes'  "down  east"  way  of  baking  beans.  But  one  by  one  they 
have  gone  home  to  glory;  and  the  memory  of  their  loving  deeds  inspire  us 
to  strive  to  meet  them  where  congregations  ne'er  break  up  and  Sabbaths  have 
no  end. 

EBB  N.  ZELL 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  the  well 
known  jeweler  of  North  Ninth  Street,  is  a 
native  of  Reading,  Penn'a,  where  he  was 
born  May  12,  1866,  which  makes  him  just 
as  old  as  Otterbein  Church,  with  which  he 
has  been  identified  from  childhood.  He 
was  converted  in  Otterbein  Church  in  1  880, 
and  baptized  in  the  Schuylkill  River  in 
1 883,  by  Rev.  M.  P.  Doyle.  In  1 888  Mr. 
Zell  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Emma 
Beyler,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Margaretta 
Beyler,  of  Reading.  To  these  parents  have 
been  born  three  children.  Alma,  Erma  and 
Norma.  Mr.  Zell  is  a  well  known,  up-to- 
date  jeweler,  and  conducts  a  prosperous 
business  on  North  Ninth  Street.  In  his  busi- 
ness and  religious  life  Mr.  Zell  is  upright 
and  reliable,  and  enjoys  the  esteem  of  his 
brethren  in  the  church.  His  sainted  moth- 
er is  tenderly  remembered  by  the  older 
members  of  the  church  as  one  of  the  best 
and  most  devoted  Christians  in  the  church 
and  community.  His  sister,  Mrs.  Belle 
Zell,  is  also  a  faithful  member  of  the  church 


Ebb   N.  Zell 


and  is  helpfully  associated  with  its  work  in  every  way 

ELMER  C.  SMITH 

Mr.  Smith  was  born  in  Washington  Township,  Berks 
County,  Penn'a,  October  31,  1874,  and  came  to  Reading 
a  few  years  ago.  He  learned  the  art  of  printing,  and  is 
prominently  associated  with  Albright  &  Shenton  in  that 
business.  He  was  converted  in  1896,  and  joined  Otter- 
bein Church  the  same  year  under  Rev.  Z.  A.  Weidler, 
by  whom  also  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ella  B.  Butts  De- 
cember 23,  1897.  He  is  Secretary  of  the  official  board, 
and  Treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  of  which  he  is 
also  a  member.  In  1908  he  represented  the  congrega- 
tion in  the  Annual  Conference,  and  has  been  otherwise 
officially  identified  with  the  organized  life  of  the  church.  Mrs.  Smith  is  an 
ideal  helpmeet  and  an  highly  esteemed  member  of  the  church  ;  and  the  chil- 


Elmer  C.  Smith 


44 


HISTORICAL      SOUVENIR 


dren,  Virginia  and  Olga,  are  members  of  the  "Sunshine"  Committee,  both  at 
home  and  in  the  Sunday  School  and  sanctuary  services.     The  home   circle  is 

rendered  additionally  blessed  by  the 
presence  of  Mrs.  Smith's  father  and  sis- 
ter, Mr.  Butts  and  Miss  Minerva,  the  latter 
a  faithful  member  of  the  church  and 
Superintendent  of  the  Juniors.  The 
father  is  an  esteemed  member  of  Memo- 
rial U.  B.  Church.  They  are  all  devoted 
to  the  church. 

JAMES  WASHINGTON  SHAEFFER 

Mr.  Shaeffer  is  a  native  of  Schuylkill 
County,  Penn'a,  where  he  was  born  March 
6,  1857.  On  the  1  1th  of  March,  1875, 
he  married  Miss  Agnes  Adelia  Snell,  of 
Schuylkill  Haven,  where  he  and  his  young 
w^ife  embraced  religion  and  joined  the 
United  Brethren  Church.  They  came  to 
Reading  in  1  883  ;  and  ten  years  later  they 
became  members  of  Otterbein  Church, 
James  Washington  Shaeffer  and  havc  been  increasingly  active  in  its 

work  and  worship.     Mr.  Shaeffer   has  been   General   Stew^ard    of  the  church, 

and  is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

He  is  a  quiet,  modest  man,  desires  no  office, 

and  has  but  little  to  say,  but   all    the  while 

he    is   an  interested  and  active  member  of 

the  church. 

MRS.  AGNES  A.  SHAEFFER 

Mrs.  Shaeffer  is  the  wife  of  James  Wash- 
ington Shaeffer,  and  one  of  the  most  active 
members  of  the 
church.  She  is  a  trus- 
tee of  the  parsonage 
and  President  of  the 
Ladies  Sewing  Circle, 
which  meets  every 
Wednesday  afternoon 
and  is  unusually  active 
this  year  in  the  inter- 
est of  the  parsonage 
debt,  which  the  Circle 

desires    to    discharge    as   soon   as  possible.     To  this  end 
Rev.  H.  C.  Phillips  Mrs.  Shaeffer  is  pushing  the  work  vigorously. 


Asnes  A.  Shaeffer 


UNITED      BRETHREN      CHURCH 


45 


MRS.  MARY  MILLER 

Mrs.  Miller  is  a  native  of  Berks  County,  Penn'a.  She  was  converted  in 
1889  and  received  into  Otterbein  Church  by  the  pastor,  Rev.  M.  A.  Salt;  and 
w^as  baptized  a  year  or  two  later  in  the  Schuylkill 
River  at  the  Penn  Street  bridge  by  Rev.  H.  D.  Lehman. 
Since  that  time  she  has  been  active  in  Christian  work 
and  faithful  in  the  church.  Her  life  has  not  been 
all  sunshine,  but  she  has  found  Him  faithful  who  has 
promised,  and  loves  to  sing  this  song :  "  Where  He 
leads  me  I  w^ill  foUow^."  Soon  after  her  conversion, 
Mrs.  Miller  became  interested  and  active  in  the  tem- 
perance cause.  In  1897  she  signed  the  pledge  and 
became  a  White  Ribboner ;  and  from  that  day  to  this 
she  has  been  a  crusader.  More  than  once  she  has 
politely  requested  hotel  men  not  to  sell  to  certain 
friends  of  hers,  and  when  she  caught  them  violating 
their  pledge  to  her  and  the  law  governing  the  act  she 
smashed  their  bottles  and  mirrors,  and  then  dared 
them  to  touch  her !  Of  course,  they  kept  hands  off ;  but  they  called  her 
"Carrie  Nation."  Well,  she  can  smash  things  after  Carrie's  fashion,  but  she 
carries  no  hatchet,  and  is  very  lady-like  and  reasonable  in  her  contention 
against  the  saloon.  But  don't  let  her  see  you  sell  on  Sunday,  or  to  minors,  or 
to  one  who  is  intoxicated,  or  to  an  habitual  drunkard  !     If  you  do,  look  out ! 


Mrs.  Mary  Miller 


OTHER  MEMBERS 

The  pastor  is  sorry  that  more  of  the  members  of  the  church  did  not  fur- 
nish either  a  cut  or  a  brief  biographical  sketch  for  this  Souvenir,  which  will 
prove  a  pleasure  to  all  in  years  to  come,  as  well  as  in  its  present  perusal.  All 
were  invited  to  do  so,  both  by  letter  and  by  personal  request,  but  many  have 
not  complied. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benjamin  BLATT  and  their  children,  Sallie,  Annie  and 
Clarence,  are  among  this  number.  They  came  from  Sinking  Spring  several 
years  ago,  and  joined  Otterbein  Church  April  5,  1908.  The  parents  joined 
the  United  Brethren  Church  years  ago,  and  are  devoted  to  her  life  and  spirit. 

Amos  DILLER  and  Wife  and  their  two  sons,  Hilbert  G.  and  Allen  L., 
constitute  another  family  of  churchly,  faithful  Christians.  The  parents  come 
from  old  United  Brethren  families,  and  their  children  are  model  young  men. 
They  joined  Otterbein  April  5,  1908. 

Raymond  V.  StRAUSSER,  our  faithful  and  efficient  Janitor,  joined  the 
church  April  5,  1908.  He  has  endeared  himself  to  all  the  members  and 
friends  of  the  church  by  his  kind  and  courteous  bearing,  as  well  as  by  the 
faithful  performance  of  his  duties.  He  is  a  young  man  of  promise  to  the 
church,  especially  if  he  will  give  Christ  the  right  of  way  in  his  life. 


46  HISTORICAL      SOUVENIR 

Mrs.  Alva  RIBER  and  Mrs.  Walter  HaYDEN.  her  daughter,  are  es- 
teemed members  and  friends  of  the  church.  They  are  always  the  same,  in 
season  and  out  of  season,  quietly  serving  the  church  in  every  way  they  can, 
and  scattering  seeds  of  kindness  wherever  they  go.  Their  husbands,  Mr. 
Riber  and  Mr.  Walter  Hayden  are  good  friends  of  ours. 

Mrs.  Emma  Smith  joined  the  church  April  5,  1908.  Many  years  ago 
she  belonged  to  the  congregation,  but  moved  away  and  became  separated 
from  its  life  and  influence.  She  is  a  devout  Christian  and  a  faithful  member, 
and  bears  the  marks  of  many  sorrows.  She  has  had  her  share  of  grief  and 
trouble,  but  she  is  an  heir  of  God,  and  expects  and  intends  to  outride  all  the 
storms  of  sorrow  that  may  fall,  and  reach  home  at  last. 

William  Lord  CLOUSER  and  Wife  are  among  the  young  people  of  the 
church,  and  should  be  increasingly  useful  in  her  work  and  worship.  Mr. 
Clouser  joined  the  church  January  5,  1908.  His  wife  has  been  a  member  for 
some  years,  and  is  an  officer  in  the  church.  Her  mother  and  sister,  Mrs.  Rich- 
ard Hill  and  Miss  Ida,  are  also  members  of  the  church.  In  this  season  of 
affliction  and  bereavement  may  they  realize  that  the  Lord  is  their  Shepherd. 

Mr.  Henry  Good  and  son,  Noah,  came  from  Ephrata  two  years  ago 
and  joined  Otterbein  by  certificate  January  5,  1908.  Mr.  Noah  Good  is  a  fine 
young  man,  and  should  prove  a  great  help  to  the  church  and  a  blessing  to  the 
community.      May  his  usefulness  increase  with  the  years. 

Mrs,  William  C.  WERTS,  wife  of  Dr.  Werts,  became  a  member  of  the 
church  April  5,  1908,  and  has  been  faithful  in  her  duties.  In  her  attendance 
upon  the  means  of  grace,  public  preaching,  prayer  meeting  and  Sunday  School 
services,  Mrs.  Werts  has  been  a  devout  worshipper,  and  promises  to  be  a  very 
useful  member  of  the  church.  Her  husband.  Dr.  Werts,  a  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
James  Werts,  is  a  bright  and  skillful  physician,  up-to-date  in  his  knowledge 
and  practice. 

Mr.  T.  H.  B.  GEIGER  and  Wife  have  been  stand-bys  in  Otterbein  Church 
for  years.  I  am  sorry  I  don't  have  a  cut  and  a  sketch  of  them  and  their  faith- 
ful lives.  They  joined  Otterbein  Church  March  21,1  869,  and  from  that  day 
to  this  they  have  been  devoted  to  her  fellowship  and  welfare.  Moreover, 
Brother  Geiger  has  been  equally  faithful  to  his  country,  having  served  as  a 
soldier  in  the  Civil  War,  from  which  he  came  home  with  a  very  honorable 
discharge  and  an  empty  sleeve.  I  take  off  my  hat  and  open  my  heart  to  the 
old  soldier,  with  whom  I  love  to  converse. 

Mr.  Harry  Duncan  and  Wife  have  been  members  of  the  church  for 
many  years,  and  have  done  much  to  help  on  its  various  enterprises,  especially 
when  it  comes  to  hard  work  and  large  giving ;  for  they  are  both  liberal  in 
their  support  of  the  church.  Mrs.  Dungan  is  active  in  the  several  societies  of 
the  church,  and  in  her  quiet  way  does  much  for  the  cause.  Both  of  them  are 
generally  faithful  in  their  attendance  upon  the  church  and  Sunday  School 
services. 


UNITED      BRETHREN      CHURCH  47 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  WM.  H.  Miller  are  among  the  first  members  of  Otterbein 
Church,  Mrs.  Miller,  nee  Sands,  being  a  charter  member,  and  Brother  Miller 
having  joined  soon  after  the  congregation  was  organized,  in  1867,  I  think. 
Mrs.  Miller  came  from  Zion's  U.  B.  Church  with  forty  others,  who  formed  the 
nucleus  of  a  new  plant.  These  two  substantial  members  and  founders  of  the 
church  are  looking  towards  the  city  that  hath  foundations,  whose  builder  and 
maker  is  God,  and  where  they  have  special  attractions,  especially  in  the 
person  of  a  lovely  daughter,  who  was  and  is  dear  to  their  hearts. 

Mrs.  Covington  and  Nellie,  her  daughter,  are  included  in  the  mem- 
bership of  the  church.  Mrs.  Covington  joined  years  ago,  and  Nellie  later. 
The  mother  has  had  her  share  of  sorrow,  especially  in  the  fact  that  death  has 
been  in  her  home  and  left  a  vacant  chair.  But  she  has  blessed  hope  with  her 
weeping.     "Heaviness  may  endure  for  a  night,  but  joy  cometh  in  the  morning." 

Mrs.  L.  J.  COYLE  is  one  of  the  young  ladies  of  the  congregation,  and  has 
been  active  and  helpful  in  the  work  of  the  church,  especially  in  the  circles 
and  societies  in  which  ladies  are  naturally  interested  and  successful.  She  is 
gifted  as  a  follower  of  Dorcas,  and  has  given  much  time  and  labor  to  that 
department  of  service,  and  thereby  brought  much  revenue  to  the  church. 
She  is  the  wife  of  Mr.  L.  J.  Coyle,  the  well-known  insurance  manager,  and  a 
daughter  of  Mrs.  Mary  Wisler. 

Mrs.  Clara  SHERKER,  daughter  and  sister,  MRS.  JOHN  ADAMS  and  MiSS 
Esther  LUTZ,  constitute  a  churchly  trio  of  members,  all  of  whom  have  been 
and  still  are  sincerely  devoted  to  the  congregation.  The  same  is  true  of  Clara 
Hildred,  who  is  a  member  of  the  pastor's  Bible  Class,  and  also  of  the  Primary 
Department  of  the  Sunday  School.  Mrs.  Sherker  is  a  faithful  Christian,  a  good 
mother  and  friend.  Her  husband  died  some  years  ago,  and  she  knows  what 
sorrow^  is.     Still,  she  and  her  loved  ones  are  hopeful. 

Mrs.  Mary  E.  Gallagher  joined  the  church  April  5,  1908,  in  connec- 
tion with  nineteen  others,  on  profession  of  faith.  It  was  the  first  Sunday  in 
the  month,  and  Holy  Communion  was  administered  that  day.  Mrs.  Gallagh- 
er has  been  very  attentive  to  her  church  duties,  and  active  and  helpful  in  the 
work  of  the  congregation.  She  rarely  misses  a  service  of  any  kind.  Such 
attention  to  the  services  of  God's  house  is  sure  to  enrich  the  worshipper. 

The  RHOADS  Family  are  all  interested  in  the  church.  Miss  Louisa  is  a 
faithful  member,  and  her  sisters  are  regular  attendants  at  church  and  Sunday 
School  services.  The  members  of  the  family  are  real  friends  of  the  congre- 
gation, and  the  church  is  affectionately  interested  in  them.  Chester  and  the 
pastor  are  on  good  terms.     Mrs.  Rhoads  is  a  real  mother  and  a  godly  woman. 

Mr.  Harry  SH^^EFFER  and  Wife,  9  1 9  Greenwich  Street,  are  young  mem- 
bers of  the  church,  and  are  highly  esteemed  for  their  many  acts  of  kindness 
towards  the  congregation,  in  which  they  are  sincerely  interested.  May  they 
increase  in  usefulness. 


48 


HISTORICAL      SOUVENIR 


MISS  WERTS'  CLASS 


HOW  THE  READING  UNITED  BRETHREN  CHURCHES  VOTED  FOR  DELEGATES 
TO  GENERAL  CONFERENCE 


D.  D.  Lowery    .    .    .     . 

C.  I.  B.  Brane    .     .     .    . 

S.  C.  Enck 

G.  D.  Batdorf     .     .    . 

A.  A.  Long 

H.  S.  Gable 

J.  A.  Lyter     .... 

I.  H.  Albright    .    .    . 

1.  E.  Runk 

H.  E.  Miller  .... 
H.  B.  Spayd 

E.  A.  G.  Bossier  .  . 
E.  O.  Burtner  ... 
R.  R.  Butterwick  .  . 
A.  E.  Shroyer    ... 

Clinton  M.  Hershey 
S.  F.  Engle     .... 
W.  H.  U'lrich      .     .    .    , 
T.  G.  Spangler       .    . 
J.  G.  Stehman    .    .    . 

S.  P.  Black 

R.  A.  Enders  .  .  . 
S.  N.  Eby 

H.  J.  Roop     .... 

M.  S.  Hendricks  .     . 
J.  H.  Balsbaugh    .     . 
E.  Benjamin  Bierinan 
G.  L.  Grabill      .    .    . 
John  Herr 

D.  B.  Kieffer     .    .    . 


Reading 

Reading 

Reading 

Reading 

Otterbein 

Salem 

Zions 

Memorial 

99 

50 

82 

68 

158 

58 

101 

22 

36 

21 

38 

45 

94 

67 

127 

19 

29 

22 

30 

4 

37 

32 

59 

52 

54 

10 

8 

9 

56 

44 

81 

23 

57 

19 

14 

47 

45 

23 

23 

38 

12 

14 

24 

8 

32 

10 

12 

II 

8 

3 

2 

4 

22 

28 

30 

21 

27 

6 

8 

^Y  DELEGATES 

93 

23 

51 

18 

33 

55 

97 

57 

43 

23 

36 

22 

53 

53 

102 

40 

70 

21 

73 

20 

55 

31 

23 

14 

14 

9 

21 

13 

107 

17 

56 

15 

65 

34 

17 

27 

15 

14 

75 

52 

14 

22 

.   15 

10 

39 

62 

42 

39 

80 

10 

37 

12 

30 

II 

10 

6 

57 

20 

17 

21 

UNITED       BRETHREN      CHURCH 


49 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ezra  Wein- 

HOLD  came  from  Ephrata  two 
years  ago,  and  a  year  later  they 
joined  Otterbein  Church.  Mrs. 
Weinhold  is  a  daughter  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Abram  McCarty. 
They  feel  "at  home"  in  their 
new  church  relations,  and  take 
pleasure  in  the  w^ork  and  wor- 
ship of  the  congregation. 
These  two  should  become 
stand-bys  in  the  church  in 
years  to  come.     May  the  Lord 

grant   it.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ezra  Weinhold 

Miss  BECKIE  GEHRET  and  MiSS  BESSIE  SNYDER,  two  of  the  young  ladies 
of  the  congregation,  are  exemplary  Christians  and  should  increase  their  inter- 
est and  activity  in  the  church.  They  are  identified  with  the  Y.  W.  C.  A.,  and 
are  also  interested  in  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  May  their  young  hearts  and  lives  be 
bright  with  the  sunshine  of  His  favor,  and  their  gladness  of  soul  increase  as 
the  days  go  by. 

Miss  Louisa  M.  HEDRICK  is  devoted  to  her  church  and  its  services,  and 
usually  enjoys  the  inspiration  and  fellowship  of  the  morning  worship.  More- 
over, her  regular  attendance  and  friendly  spirit  have  been  a  great  help  to 
others.  Fixed  habits  of  a  church-going  nature  are  far  reaching  in  their  influ- 
ence.     How  much  good  we  all  may  do  in  this  way. 

Mrs.  Ida  SYMONDS  came  from  Lancaster  County  some  years  ago,  and 
straightw^ay  identified  herself  vs^ith  Otterbein  Church,  where  her  influence  has 
been  blessedly  helpful  in  every  way.  Owing  to  affliction  her  attendance  at 
church  has  been  seldom  this  w^inter,  yet  she  keeps  in  touch  with  its  life  and 
labor.  Her  daughter,  Mrs.  Jennie  Hoffman,  wife  of  the  w^ell  known  furniture 
dealer,  is  also  an  esteemed  member. 

Mrs.  Emma  Kline  is  one  of  the  older  members  of  the  church.  In  her 
the  church  has  had  a  life-long  friend  and  an  exemplary  member.  Her  life 
has  been  a  praise  to  God  and  a  blessing  to  humanity.  She  and  her  husband 
and  daughter  are  living  happily  together  in  Christ  Jesus,  w^ho  will  say  it  is 
enough.  She  is  loved  and  honored  by  all  the  members  of  the  church,  who 
regret  that  she  cannot  attend  the  services  any  more. 

Mrs.  Rebecca  BINGAMAN  is  now  living  in  Beulahland.  Her  race  is 
nearly  run,  and  the  prize  of  eternal  life  is  practically  won.  I  wish  I  had  her 
picture  for  this  Souvenir,  side  by  side  with  that  of  Mrs.  Emma  Kline's,  that 
w^e  might  look  into  their  faces  and  reflect  upon  their  godly  lives  and  labors. 
Mrs.  Bingaman  is  full  of  praise  to  God  for  His  goodness,  and  is  tenderly  cared 
for  by  her  loving  daughters.  She  is  waiting, 
(g) 


50  HISTORICAL      SOUVENIR 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Zimmerman,  two  true  and  tried  members  of  the 
church,  are  now  Hving  at  Rosedale,  where  they  have  a  pleasant  home  and 
restful  surroundings.  They  have  enjoyed  the  fellowship  of  the  church  for 
years,  and  their  presence  is  alwrays  an  inspiration  to  the  pastor  and  the  con- 
gregation. They,  too,  have  a  vacant  chair  in  their  home.  By  the  way,  how 
many  broken  home  circles  there  are  ! 

Jacob  STROHECKER  and  Wife  are  among  our  most  faithful  members. 
They  are  staid  and  steady  in  their  habits  of  life,  and  really  enjoy  religion.  In 
the  years  to  come  they  w^ill  still  shine  out  their  love  for  the  Master,  and  thus 
bless  the  church. 

Mrs.  Lillian  WALTHER  and  her  children  have  had  sickness  and  death 
in  their  home,  the  husband  and  father  having  died  one  year  ago.  But  in  the 
One  who  is  the  Resurrection  and  the  Life  there  is  help  and  hope.  May  they 
trust  in  Him. 

Mrs.  Emma  GOAS  joined  the  church  September  29,  1907,  by  certificate 
from  the  U.  B.  Church  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  w^hich  is  her  native  place.  She  is 
here  what  she  was  there,  a  faithful  Christian  and  esteemed  church  member. 
In  the  Sew^ing  Circle  Mrs.  Goas  is  especially  active  and  useful.  She  and  her 
husband  and  children  are  all  interested  in  the  work  and  worship  of  the  church. 
May  God  bless  this  dear  family. 

Mrs.  Matilda  Eyrick  and  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Esther  Rothermel, 

belong  to  Otterbein  Church,  through  whose  ministry  and  membership  they 
have  been  inspired  to  a  closer  walk  with  God.  May  He  continue  to  be  their 
guide,  even  unto  the  end,  and  then  receive  them  to  glory. 

Miss  SALLIE  Forney  has  been  a  member  of  the  church  for  some  years, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  faithful  in  her  attendance  upon  the  services  of  the 
church  and  Sunday  School.  She  is  kind  and  friendly  to  all  and  loves  the 
Saviour,  Who  w^ill  say  to  her,  "Come  up  higher." 

Mrs.  Belle  ZELL  is  just  out  after  a  spell  of  sickness,  which  was  a  new 
experience  for  her.  She  and  her  children  are  among  the  "regulars"  in  their 
attendance  at  church  and  Sunday  services.  Mrs.  Zell  is  one  of  the  most 
active  and  interested  of  our  members  and  serves  faithfully  in  the  Sewing  Circle 
and  Missionary  Societies  of  the  congregation. 

Mrs.  SALLIE  Hess,  who  has  been  a  faithful  member  of  the  church  for 
many  years,  is  too  much  afflicted  to  attend  church  often,  but  her  interest  in 
the  congregation  and  in  the  cause  of  Christ  is  abiding.  She  and  her  husband 
are  still  "on  the  way." 

Mrs.  Emma  High  and  daughters,  Mrs.  Florence  Smith  and  Miss  Katha- 
ryne  Louisa,  are  each  identified  with  the  church  and  its  services.  Katharyne 
usually  comes  with  her  grandparents,  and  is  indeed  a  "sunbeam"  at  home  and 
elsewhere.     God  bless  the  children. 


UNITED      BRETHREN      CHURCH  51 

Mrs.  Richard  P.  Hill  and  daughter,  Miss  Ida  Hill,  whose  husband  and 
father  recently  died,  are  continuing  their  residence  at  the  old  home,  together 
with  Mr.  Joseph  Hill  and  w^ife. 

Mrs.  Rachel  Bowers,  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  church,  is 
spending  her  closing  years  very  pleasantly  with  her  son  and  his  Christian 
family.  Notwithstanding  her  age,  she  is  enjoying  a  fair  degree  of  health. 
Better  still,  she  is  strong  in  faith  and  blessedly  hopeful  concerning  the  future. 
She  is  loved  and  honored  by  all  the  members  of  the  church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  WERTS  and  daughters,  Esther  and  Annie,  are 
esteemed  members  of  the  church.  The  daughters  are  interested  in  the  Sunday 
School,  the  one  as  a  teacher  and  the  other  as  a  scholar,  while  the  son,  Mr. 
James  R.  Werts,  is  Secretary  of  the  Ushers  League.  In  her  painful  affliction, 
from  which  she  is  •  slowly  recovering,  Mrs.  Werts  has  enjoyed  the  tender 
ministry  of  her  husband  and  children.     Good  children  are  a  joy  to  parents. 

Mrs.  Clara  J.  SPANGLER  joined  the  church  January  5,  1908.  She  had 
been  a  friend  and  a  regular  attendant  long  before,  but  when  her  husband  died 
she  felt  that  she  should  become  identified  w^ith  the  congregation.  She  is 
afflicted  and  bereaved,  but  greatly  comforted  in  Jesus. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Howard  SPANGLER  have  been  members  of  the  church 
for  years.  They  and  their  children  were  formerly  active  and  interested  in  the 
church  and  Sunday  School  services,  and  enjoyed  the  fellowship  of  the  saints. 
May  their  Lord  keep  and  comfort  them,  even  unto  the  end. 

Mrs.  Kate  SaYLOR  is  a  firm  and  faithful  Christian  and  also  devoted  to 
the  church.  Although  much  afflicted,  she  attends  the  services  when  she  can. 
She  is  loved  by  all. 

Miss  Lillian  C.  STRUNK,  one  of  our  brightest  and  best  young  ladies  and 
a  pupil  in  the  high  school,  and  also  gifted  in  music,  should  become  one  of 
the  most  useful  members  of  the  church.  She  can  and  should  make  her  influ- 
ence felt  for  good  all  through  the  years  to  come.  She  always  listens  attentively 
to  the  Word. 

Mr.  Joseph  REIST  and  Wife,  including  their  dear  children,  form  an 
interesting  home  circle.  They  are  all  members  of  the  church  of  Jesus  Christ, 
and  will  no  doubt  prove  a  blessing  to  the  congregation  all  through  the  years 
to  come. 

Mrs.  SaLLIE  ROWE  is  not  physically  strong,  and  rarely  gets  to  the  sanc- 
tuary services,  but  alw^ays  expresses  her  love  for  the  church  and  her  personal 
interest  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  May  she  soon  be  w^ell  in  body,  and  also 
find  grace  to  serve  Christ  and  the  Church. 

Mr.  J.  H.  O'BRYAN  and  Wife,  the  latter  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry 
Zieber,  are  very  devoted  members  of  the  church.  In  the  midst  of  affliction 
and  some  bereavement,  they  "press  towards  the  mark"  and  hope  to  win  the 
prize  of  eternal  life. 


52  HISTORICAL      SOUVENIR 

Mrs.  Annie  PINYARD,  nee  Richards,  is  one  of  our  faithful  young  women. 
Just  one  year  ago,  March  19,  1908,  the  pastor  married  her  to  Mr.  Albert  Pin- 
yard,  of  Philadelphia.  They  are  devoted  to  the  church,  and  will  find  many 
opportunities  to  help  on  her  work.     God  bless  them  ! 

Miss  SALLIE  LESSIG,  one  of  the  standbys  in  the  several  societies  of  the 
church,  is  a  noble  Christian  lady.  She  and  her  husband  are  greatly  interested 
in  the  church. 

Mr.  Clarence  L.  Miller,  son  of  Mr.  Wm.  and  Mrs.  Tillie  Miller,  is  a 
bright  young  member  w^ho  should  make  his  years  count  for  Christ  and  the 
church.     He  has  an  ideal  w^ife  and  lovely  children. 

Mr.  Harry  J.  Miller  and  Wife  joined  the  church  April  19,  1908.    The 

door  of  usefulness  is  open   to  them,  and  they  should  enter  it  while  they  are 
young. 

Mr.  Howard  HOOPES  and  Wife  are  among  our  substantial  people. 
Being  young  and  conscientious,  their  usefulness  should  increase  with  the 
years,  and  their  influence  for  good  should  count  for  much  in  a  spiritual  way. 
They  are  highly  esteemed. 

Mrs.  Emma  J.  HOVERTER  and  daughter.  Miss  Ruth,  are  helpfully  identi- 
fied with  Otterbein  Church,  as  is  also  the  father  and  grandfather,  Mr.  William 
Murdorf,  w^hose  devoted  wife  was  called  home  last  year.  May  the  pierced 
hand  hold  and  help  these  representatives  of  three  generations. 

Mrs.  Susan  Lied  and  her  children,  Harry  and  Minnie,  constitute  an 
entire  home  circle.  God  has  said  He  will  be  a  husband  to  the  widow  and  a 
father  to  the  fatherless.  So  may  He  be  to  this  widow  and  her  children.  The 
church  esteem  them  highly. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  LaNDIS  joined  the  church  some  years  ago,  and 
still  they  walk  the  highway  together,  mutually  bearing  each  others'  burdens. 
The  pastor  and  congregation  are  always  glad  to  see  them  at  church.  The 
daughter  is  aWays  at  Sunday  School. 

Miss  Mary  GRAUL,  who  came  from  Zion's  Church  as  a  charter  member, 
is  a  modest  Christian  lady  of  much  experience,  and  is  still  interested  in  the 
congregation  and  the  welfare  of  its  members.  She  is  alone  in  her  home  life, 
yet  "never  alone"  because  she  walks  with  Him. 

Mr.  H.  Clay  STONER  and  Wife,  who  was  Miss  Genieva  Loose,  are 
among  the  younger  members  of  the  congregation,  and  the  spiritual  develop- 
ment of  their  lives  should  be  increasingly  blessed.  Their  children,  Erma 
and  Kise,  are  devoted  to  the  church  and  promise  much  for  the  future. 

Mrs.  HATTIE  A.  HEFFNER  came  into  the  church  January  5,  1908.  She 
is  a  regular  worshiper  at  the  public  services  of  the  congregation,  and  her  three 
children  are  members  of  the  pastor's  Bible  Class.  She  is  a  good  member  and 
a  kind  mother. 


UNITED      BRETHREN      CHURCH  53 

The  HERM  children,  CATHARINE,  MaRY  F.  and  ELSIE  E.  joined  the  church 
April  19,  1908.  These  lambs  of  the  flock  should  receive  special  care  and 
kindness  from  all,  from  the  pastor  down.  Jesus  loves  little  children,  and 
wants  us  to  look  after  them  for  Him.     Will  we  do  it  ? 

Mrs.  Barbara  Berg  joined  the  church  April  1 9,  1  908.  She  is  a  churchly 
member  as  well  as  a  faithful  Christian.  Her  sister,  Mrs.  Ida  Heim,  v^^ho  is  just 
recovering  from  a  long  and  serious  spell  of  typhoid  fever,  is  also  a  member 
of  the  church ;  and  her  daughters,  Anna  and  Edith,  are  members  of  the 
Sunday  School.     They  are  fine  girls,  a  credit  to  parents  and  the  church. 

Mrs.  LOVENIA  Kline  and  her  two  daughters,  Mrs.  Nora  Schetter  and 
Mrs.  Ella  Riffert,  w^hose  visits  to  the  sanctuary  services  are  alw^ays  appreciated, 
are  the  w^idows  and  daughters  of  the  late  Emerson  Kline,  v/hose  picture 
appears  elsew^here  in  this  Souvenir,  and  w^hose  life  and  labor  were  so  helpful 
to  the  church. 

Mr.  William  Shearer,  the  well-known  barber  of  North  Ninth  Street, 
Wife  and  daughter.  Miss  Marie,  and  the  other  children,  are  identified  with 
the  church  and  Sunday  School.  Miss  Marie  is  a  regular  attendant  at  church 
and  Sunday  School,  and  a  member  of  Miss  Loose's  class. 

Miss  HATTIE  Morgan  and  her  brother  live  together  and  are  striving  for 
unseen  and  eternal  things.     After  awhile  the  Master  will  say,  "it  is  enough."     - 

Mrs.  Bessie  May  Printz,  Mr.  Martin  H.  Nisley,  Miss  Trautman,  Mrs.  M.  E. 
Conrad,  Mrs.  Annie  Schnable,  Miss  Carrie  Yerger,  Miss  Mary  Batdorf,  Miss 
Sarah  Yoder,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  E.  Spohn,  William  P.  Reeser,  Mis.  Beulah 
Rothermel,  Mrs.  Ella  Knipe,  Mrs.  Amelia  E.  Hill,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  G.  Frank- 
fort, Mary  A.  Cox,  Miss  Maud  Becker,  Miss  Ethel  Becker,  Miss  Lororian  Beck- 
er, Mr.  Luther  Weidman  and  sister,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  S.  Craumer,  all  have  a 
w^ide  welcome  in  our  church  services  and  a  warm  place  in  our  hearts. 


54 


HISTORICAL      SOUVENIR 


SOME  OTHER  CONGREGATIONS 


THE  STORY  OF  READING  ZION'S  CHURCH 

By  Rev.  G.  D.  Batdorf 

The  history  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church  in  the  city  of  Reading  dates  back 
to  the  year  1847.  In  that  year  the  Zion's 
or  First  Church  was  organized.  The 
organization  was  effected  by  Rev.  Solo- 
mon Von  Nieda,  of  Reamstown,  assisted 
by  Rev.  S.  Weidman,  of  Sinking  Spring. 
Mr.  Von  Neida  was  associated  v/ith  Rev. 
Simon  Noll,  then  the  pastor  of  Berks 
Circuit.  The  new  class  was  attached  to 
this  circuit  and  continued  as  one  of  its 
regular  appointments  until  the  beginning 
of  1 849,  w^hen  it  was  constituted  a  mis- 
sion station  by  the  annual  conference, 
and  Rev.  S.  Noll  was  appointed  as  the 
first  regular  pastor. 

SIX  CHARTER  MEMBERS 

Six  persons  completed  the  charter 
membership  of  this  organization.  Their 
names  follow: 


REV.  G.  D.  BATDORF 

James  Stahr  John  Kutz 

Eliza  Stahr  Sarah  Kutz 


Henry  Bitner 
Mary  Bitner 


All  of  these  remained  worthy  and  faithful  members.  Five  of  them  have 
long  since  entered  into  their  rest.  Mrs.  Eliza  Stahr  is  the  only  one  remaining 
of  these  faithful  six.  She  is  still  a  member  of  the  old  church,  and  loves  it 
with  a  pure  and  almost  w^orshipful  devotion.  Just  recently  she  crossed  the 
eighty-sixth  milestone  of  her  pilgrimage.  Her  holy  life  and  radiant  faith  are 
a  benediction  upon  the  church.  All  who  visit  her  feel  the  mystic  touch  of 
her  ripened  saintly  character.  God  has  allotted  to  her  years,  unusual  strength 
and  blessed  her  w^ith  a  hopeful  optimism  that  is  most  refreshing.  Although 
she  has  been  totally  blind  for  a  number  of  years,  her  heart  is  filled  with 
praises  to  God  for  His  goodness  and  loving  kindness,  and  she  awaits  with 
confidence  a  triumphant  entrance  into  the  kingdom  of  light  and  rest. 

"FIRST  MEETING  HOUSE" 

In  the  fall  of  1847,  the  first  house  of  worship  or  "meeting  house,"  as  it 
was  then  called,  was  erected  in  the  rear  of  the  lot  on  which  the  present  build- 


UNITED      BRETHERN      CHURCH  55 

ing  stands.  It  was  a  little  frame  chapel,  20  x  30  feet,  behind  tvv^o  houses  which 
stood  on  the  front  of  the  lot,  the  entire  property  being  owned  by-  Rev.  S. 
Weidman.  There  was  a  six-foot  alley  between  these  houses  and  the  chapel. 
The  cost  of  the  building  w^as  about  $600,  the  greater  part  of  w^hich  was  paid 
by  Mr.  Weidman.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  congregation  never  had  a 
photograph  of  this  first  place  of  worship.  For  seven  years  the  congregation 
w^orshipped  in  this  chapel.  During  the  first  year  or  more  the  appointment 
w^as  served  regularly  in  connection  with  Berks  Circuit  by  Rev.  S.  Von  Nieda. 
The  record  show^s  that  progress  was  made  very  slow^ly  during  the  first  few 
years.  It  is  related  that  on  one  occasion  Mr.  Von  Nieda  had  determined  to 
drop  the  appointment,  stating  that  he  thought  it  was  not  worth  while  to  preach 
to  empty  pews.  Mr.  Stahr  then  suggested  "that  he  arrange  the  half-dozen 
members  who  attended  regularly  into  a  semi-circle  and  take  God  in  the  midst. 
In  addition  to  the  fears  within  in  the  early  life  of  this  church,  there  were  bitter 
foes  without.  Some  of  the  other  churches  and  pastors  of  Reading  strenuously 
opposed  the  mission,  and  held  it  in  derision.  An  unfriendly  pastor,  from 
whose  church  a  number  of  members  had  gone  to  the  "meeting  house  to  get 
religion,"  and  who  afterw^ards  united  w^ith  it,  gave  expression  to  his  feelings  on 
this  wise  :  "Whenever  we  establish  a  good  work  anywhere,  the  devil  has  these 
United  Brethren  around  to  spoil  it." 

SUNDAY  SCHOOL  ORGANIZED 
Immediately  after  the  chapel  had  been  erected,  steps  were  taken  tow^ard 
the  organization  of  a  Sunday  School.  John  Kutz  and  James  Stahr  personally 
hunted  up  the  scholars  for  the  school.  On  the  opening  day  there  were  twenty- 
four  pupils  present,  all  of  vv^hom  w^ere  permanently  enrolled.  These  were 
divided  into  four  classes  of  six  each.  Mrs.  Sarah  Kutz,  Mrs.  Eliza  Stahr,  Mr. 
Henry  Bitner  and  Mrs.  Mary  Bitner  w^ere  the  first  teachers.  The  boys  in  Mrs. 
Stahr's  class  came  bare-headed  and  bare-footed  to  the  school.  The  first  su- 
perintendent w^as  John  Kutz,  and  James  Stahr  was  the  secretary.  On  the 
Saturday  morning  before  the  opening  of  the  first  session  of  the  Sunday  School, 
the  officers  had  not  a  single  hymn-book  or  Bible  to  be  used.  During  the  day 
Mr.  Stahr  made  a  house-to-house  canvass  and  solicited  upwards  of  $25  ;  and 
in  the  evening  he  and  the  superintendent  bought  from  Mr.  Samuel  Heckler, 
bookseller  at  Sixth  and  Penn  Streets,  the  needed  literature  for  the  school.  Mr. 
Heckler  himself  donated  five  dollars  toward  this  project.  Thus,  amidst  hum- 
ble and  struggling  beginnings,  the  first  Sunday  School  vv^as  launched.  Later 
Mrs.  Sarah  Ebbert  became  a  member  of  the  school.  She  gathered  scores  of 
scholars  and  brought  them  into  the  school,  as  well  as  solicited  large  sums  of 
money  for  the  church's  support.  Mrs.  Ebbert  was  for  many  years  a  faithful 
member  of  this  church.  She  died  two  years  ago,  full  of  honors  and  at  the 
ripe  age  of  eighty-three  years.  Several  years  later  Jacob  Gossler  united  with 
the  church  by  letter  from  the  Fourth  Street  M.  E.  Church.  He  was  elected  the 
first  class  leader,  and,  after  Mr.  Kutz,  became  superintendent  of  the  school. 
It  was  during  these  early  years  that  Joseph  Levan  came  to  the  Sunday  School, 
preferring   this   to    his   own  (Reformed)  school.     He  was   first   a  member   of 


56 


HISTORICAL      SOUVENIR 


Mrs.  Stahr's  class.     Mr.  Levan  was  one  of  the  most  loyal  and  faithful  members 
the  church  ever  had.     He  died  several  years  ago. 

A  MISSION  STATION 

At  the  annual  conference  of  1849  Reading  Zion's  vv^as  constituted  a  mis- 
sion station,  and  Rev.  Simon  Noll  vv^as  appointed  pastor.  He  served  the 
charge  faithfully  for  three  years.  A  fevv^  lines  of  historical  comment,  taken 
from  the  old  record,  read  :  "The  congregations  in  the  beginning  of  Rev.  Noll's 
labors  were  small.  But  he  succeeded  to  draw^  a  good  congregation  and  to 
get  up  several  revivals  of  religion.  He  reported  at  the  end  of  his  three  years 
of  labors,  'Seventy-eight  members ; '  and  left  the  church  in  a  prosperous  con- 
dition." The  following  is  a  complete  copy  of  the  minutes  of  the  first  regular 
quarterly  conference: 

C.  Pefley,  P.  E.  May  3d,   1851. 

S.  Noll,  Preacher  in  charge. 
I.  Carpenter,  M.  Seiler,  W.  Boyer,  class  leaders. 

-r    o       1       ^  Michael  Sands       i 

1 .  bands     I      c-    1       , 

D    Lewis    '     E'''l^o»''e''s  Amos  Graul  Stewards 

Hiram  Roland       ' 
I.  Carpenter  w^as  licensed  to  preach.      Martin  Seiler,  renewed. 

M.  Sands'  Class,  $5.36 

A.  Graul       .  .  5.00 

)land  .  1 .66 


Stew^ards'  money  received  -; 


]  H.  Rol 

Sect.,  S.  Noll 


$12.02 


During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  David  Hoffman  the  little  frame  chapel  was 
replaced  by  a  larger  and  more  substantial  structure.  This  second  building 
w^as  constructed  of  brick.  It  afforded  ample  accommodation  for  the  growing 
life  of  the  church  during  many  years.  With  some  needed  repairs  from  time 
to  time,  it  continued  as  the  place  of  worship  until  1 898,  when  the  present 
commodious  edifice  w^as  erected.  The  only  item  on  record  regarding  the 
financial  part  of  this  project — and  indeed  of  any  other  part  also — is  the  one 
which  states  that  there  was  an  indebtedness  remaining  of  almost  $3,000.  Sub- 
sequently a  number  of  persons  were,  in  turn,  appointed  agents  by  the  annual 
conference  for  the  soliciting  of  funds  to  cover  this  debt.  By  hard  work  and 
persistent  effort  the  congregation,  w^ith  the  assistance  of  several  special  agents, 
succeeded  by  March  9,  1865,  after  eleven  years,  to  reduce  the  indebtedness 
to  $730.     This  amount  was  secured  within  the  next  few  years,  and  the  church 

was  freed  from  debt. 

PASTORS  OF  THE  CHURCH 

E.  Light 1864-66 

J.  Runk     ......  1867-68 

J.  Light     1869-71 

J.  H.  Unger 1872-75 

J.  H.  Mark 1876-78 

David  Hoffman   .    .    .  1879-81 

S.  Etter      .......  1882-86 

J.  Light 1887-88 


Solomon  Von  Nieda 

1847-48 

Simon  Noll  .... 

1849-51 

David  Hoffman   .    . 

1852-54 

Joseph  Young      .    . 

1855-56 

Geo.  W.  Hoffman  . 

1857-59 

J.  G.  Fritz      .... 

1860 

Jacob  Brewer  .    .    . 

1861-62 

D.  M.  Kauffman      . 

1863-64 

J.  H.  Von  Neida      . 

.  1889-94 

U.  Gambler      .    .     . 

.  1895 

S.  S.  Daugherty  .    . 

.  1896-97 

J.  H.  Von  Nieda      . 

.  1898-99 

A.  G.  Nye     .... 

.  1899-04 

I.  H.  Albright      .    . 

.  1904-06 

G.  D.  Batdorf  .    .    . 

.  1905— 

UNITED      BRETHREN      CHURCH 


57 


The  third  and  present  church  building  was  erected  under  the  pastoral 
labors  of  Rev.  J.  H.  Von  Nieda  at  a  total  cost  of  $13,500.  It  was  dedicated 
October  29,  1898,  by  Bishop  N.  CasUe.  The  building  is  constructed  of  brick, 
with  a  fine  brownstone  front,  and  is  lighted  copiously  with  art  glass  windows 
of  modern  and  beautiful  design.  It  is  a  two-story  building,  with  the  main 
auditorium,  seating  about  550,  on  the  second  floor.  The  first  floor  is  furnished 
with  library  and  rooms  for  Sunday  School  purposes.  In  the  spring  of  1907, 
under  the  present  pastor,  the  interior  of  the  church  was  thoroughly  renovated 
and  beautified.  New  lighting  fixtures  took  the  place  of  old  ones.  A  fine 
two-manual  pipe-organ  was  installed.  The  total  cost  of  these  improvements 
amounted  to  $3,500.  The  present  Board  of  Trustees  consists  of  Franklin 
Eb right,  William  J.  Levan  and  H.  C.  Holder.  Every  department  of  the  church 
is  thoroughly  organized  and  in  good  condition  for  effective  work.  The  con- 
gregation is  harmonious.  Its  present  membership  is  upwards  of  three  hundred. 
A  congenial  and  inspiring  fellowship  characterizes  the  public  services.  With 
devout  gratitude  to  God  for  His  continued  mercy,  the  members  record  their 
remembrance  of  Him,  and  erect  a  stone  of  memorial  in  the  sweet  assurance 
that  "Hitherto  the  Lord  hath  helped." 


MESSIAH  U.  B.  CHURCH,  SCHUYLKILL  HAVEN 


By  Rev.  S.  G.  Kauffman 


The  first  U.  B.  Church  in  Schuylkill  Haven,  Penn'a,  w^as  built  in  the  year 
1847,  located  on  the  corner  of  St.  John  and  Market  Streets.  This  building 
still  remains  intact,  and  is  used  for  a  dwelling.  This  house  v/as  used  for  pub- 
lic w^orship  until  September  8,  1861.  This  house  was  sold  for  $400.  The 
Rev.  John  A.  Sand  w^as  the  preacher  in  charge,  and  he,  with  William  Fisher, 
John  Freeman  and  David  Dress  as  trustees,  built  the  church.  The  Rev.  Henry 
W.  Landis  followed  Rev.  John  A.  Sand,  and  was  the  pastor  until  1858.  The 
Rev.  D.  M.  Kauffman  became  the  preacher  in  charge  in  1859.     On  August  22, 

(h) 


58 


HISTORICAL      SOUVENIR 


1860,  the  trustees  met  in  the  home  of  S.  M.  Shultz  and  agreed  to  build  a  larger 
house  of  worship.     The  trustees  present  at  this  meeting  were  William  Deibert, 

Wendel  Fenstermacher,  Solomon  Fidler,  John 
009l^'-  Y.  Houck  and  Benjamin  E.  Drumheller.     The 

name  of  the  church  decided  upon  was  "The 
IVlessiahChurch"oftheUnited  Brethren  inChrist. 
It  was  resolved  in  this  meeting  that  $2500  must 
be  secured  before  beginning  to  build.  The  Rev. 
D.  M.  Kauffman  was  appointed  to  solicit  the 
membership  for  sufficient  moneys  to  justify  the 
beginning  of  building.  In  this  he  succeeded. 
In  1861  he,  with  William  Deibert,  was  appointed 
to  draw^  up  an  act  of  incorporation  for  the  con- 
gregation and  to  present  it  to  the  Courts  of 
Schuylkill  County.  On  the  1  st  of  November, 
1  860,  a  lot  of  ground  w^as  purchased  on  Main 
Street  for  $800.  On  November  1  6,  1  860,  at  a 
meeting  of  the  trustees,  the  committee  appointed 
to  draw  up  specifications  for  the  building  pre- 
sented their  report,  which  was  adopted  ;  and  a 
building  committee  was  appointed  on  April  1 , 
1861,  which  was  composed  of  S.  M.  Shultz, 
Wendel  Fenstermacher  and  Joseph  Dengler.  The  entire  cost,  including  the 
furniture,  was  $3, 1  60.40.     The  names  of  the  charter  members  are  as  follows : 

Samuel  M.  Shultz  Daniel  Kaercher  Charles  Herbst  Daniel  Martz 

Wendel  Fenstermacher  Fredrick  Hess  David  Commings  George  M.  Boyer 

William  Daubert  Solomon  Fidler  Joseph  Mellon  William  Deibert 

John  Hendricks  B.  E.  Drumheller  Jeremiah  Sterner  John  Y.  Houk 

The  names  of  preachers  in  their  order  are  as  foUow^s : 


Rev.  S.  G.  Kauffman 


J.  A.  Sand 1846-48 

Simon  Noll 1848-49 

George  Smith  ....  1849-52 

Jacob  Roop 1852-53 

Simon  Noll 1853-55 

Simon  Zimmerman    .   1855 
David  Hoffman  .    .    .  1855-57 

C.  Feffley      1857 

J.  W.  Landis    ....   1857-60 

D.  M.  Kauffman      .     .   1860-63 
D.  Hoffman      ....   1863-64 


A.  F.  Yeager    . 
J.  G.  Fritz      .    . 
J.  B.  Daugherty 
J.  R.  Meredith 
J.  P.  Smith    .    . 
John  F.  Smith 
P.  A.  Bowman 
J.  C.  Mumma 
C.  S.  Meily  . 
J.  D.  Killian 
H.  B.  Dohner 
A.  Graul   .    . 


1864-65 
1865-67 
1867-69 
1869-71 
1871-74 
1874-75 
1875-77 
1877-79 
1879-80 
1880-82 
1882-83 
1883-83 


J.  H.  Mark 1883-87 

A.  Lehman 1887-89 

J.  G.W.  Herold  .    .    .  1889-90 

J.  G.  Fritz 1890-92 

A.  Graul 1892-94 

C.  S.  Miller 1894-96 


C.  A.  Mutch    .    . 
S.  B.  Wengert      . 
M.  J.  Mumma 
R.  R.  Butterwick 
S.  G.  Kauffman   . 


1896-99 
1899-03 
1903-07 
1907-08 
1908— 


On  August  8,  1899,  a  congregational  meeting  was  held,  and  it  was  de- 
cided to  remodel  the  church.  Charles  Keller,  M.  W.  Qyinter,  G.  W.  Maberry, 
Aug.  Hertzell,  B.  F.  Herliman  and  Rev.  C.  A.  Mutch  were  appointed  in  con- 
nection with  the  board  of  trustees  (Dr.  P.  C.  Detwiler,  Charles  Schumacker, 
Emanuel  Maberry,  Moses  Evely  and  W.  J.  Schwenk)  as  a  building  committee, 
which  repaired  the  church  at  a  cost  of  about  $4,000.  The  reopening  services 
were  conducted  December  31,1  899,  by  Dr.  I.  H.  Albright.  The  following  former 


UNITED      BRETHERN      CHURCH 


59 


pastors  preached  :  Revs.  C.  A.  Mutch,  Christ  Miller,  H.  B.  Dohner  and  P.  A. 
Bowman. 

On  April  1 ,  I  882,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Amos  Graul,  the  first  par- 
sonage was  purchased  for  $1,300.  It  was  located  thirty  feet  from  the  church. 
In  the  spring  and  summer  of  1908,  during  the  pastorate  of  R.  R.  Butterwick, 
the  present  parsonage  was  erected.  This  is  the  most  complete  home  in  the 
conference.  The  cost  of  this  house  was  $4,499.76.  The  value  of  the  property 
IS  estimated  at  $8,000.  This  parsonage  was  dedicated  on  November  1 ,  1  908, 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  C.  I.  B.  Brane.     All  the  indebtedness  was  provided  for. 

The  trustees.  Brothers  M.  W.  Quinter,  W.  J.  Schwenk,  John  Kauterman, 
Arthur  Yost  and  George  W.  Maberry,  with  Rev.  R.  R.  Butterwick,  George  P. 
W.  Saul  and  Thomas  Luckens,  who  constituted  the  building  committee,  de- 
serve much  credit  for  bringing  to  a  successful  finish  this  beautiful  home. 


SALEM  U.  B.  CHURCH 

By  Rev.  S.  B.  Wengert 

Salem  U.  B.  Church,  Tenth  and  Spring  Streets,  Reading,  Penn'a,  was  or- 
ganized October  29, 
1  886,  in  a  store-room 
on  the  corner  of  Spring 
and  North  Eighth  Sts. 
with  but  five  mem- 
bers, viz:  Rev.  and 
Mrs.  Samuel  Etter,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Frank  Shi- 
nier and  Mr.  Adam 
Bower.  The  East  Ger- 
man Conference  and 
Zion  U.  B.  Church, 
South  Ninth  Street 
near  Penn,  co-oper- 
ated in  the  establish- 
ment of  this  new 
church,  which  was 
placed  in  charge  of 
Rev.  Sam'l  Etter,  who 
was  then  pastor  of 
Zion's  U.  B.  Church. 
At  the  Quarterly  Con- 
ference  of  Zion 
Church  Frank  Shimer, 
Joseph  Levan  and  Joel 
Ganser  w^ere  elected 
a  board  of  trustees  for  ^"'"'"  ^  ^-  ^^"'■'^^'  ^'="^'"^-  P"""'" 

the  proposed  mission.     This  board  selected  the  southeast  corner  of  Spring  and 


60 


HISTORICAL      SOUVENIR 


North  Tenth  Streets  as  a  proper  location  for  the  new  church.  The  lot,  con- 
sisting of  forty  feet  front  on  Spring  Street  and.  one  hundred  feet  front  on  North 

Tenth  Street,  was  bought  for  $700.  The 
deed  conveyed  the  lot  from  Joshua  Keely 
and  w^ife  to  Franklin  Shimer,  Joseph  Levan 
and  Joel  Ganser,  trustees  of  Salem  U.  B. 
Church.  This  deed  w^as  executed  June  5, 
1 886,  and  the  building  lot  became  the 
property  of  the  third  U.  B.  church.  Shortly 
after  July  3,  1 886,  the  first  service  of  the 
mission  w^as  held  at  the  rear  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  on  North  Ninth  Street  beyond 
Amity.  Some  one  attending  that  first  ser- 
vice says  "that  Rev.  Etter  desired  permission 
to  hold  the  service  in  the  Presbyterian  chapel, 
but  this  request  being  refused.  Rev.  Etter 
and  his  people  gathered  together  on  the 
outside,  w^here  he  preached  his  first  sermon." 
According  to  a  statement  made  by  Mr. 
Adam  Bower,  one  of  the  first  members,  the 
Rev.  s.  B.  Wengert  scrviccs  thereafter  were    held    for  a  time  in 

a  tent  pitched  on  the  commons  betw^een  North  Ninth  and  North  Tenth  Streets, 
some  distance  north  of  Spring.  At  the  annual  conference  held  at  Shamokin, 
Penn'a,  September  30,  1  886,  Rev.  S.  Etter  w^as  stationed  as  regular  pastor  of 
Salem  U.  B.  Church,  thus  enabling  him  to  give  his  entire  time  to  the  new 
mission.  The  first  quarterly  conference  of  Salem  U.  B.  Church  w^as  held 
October  29,  1 886,  as  formerly  stated.  The  five  members  of  the  class  which 
w^as  at  this  time  organized  were  all  members  of  Zion  Church  at  the  time  of 
the  organization.  Rev.  J.  Shoop  presided  and  Rev.  S.  Etter  acted  as  secretary. 
At  this  meeting  Joseph  Levan  and  Joel  Ganser  resigned  as  trustees  of  Salem 
Church,  and  Adam  Bower  and  Cornelius  Mengel  were  elected  to  fill  the  va- 
cancies. At  this  quarterly  it  w^as  also  decided  to  occupy  the  store-room  on 
the  corner  of  Spring  and  North  Eighth  Streets  as  a  temporary  place  of  wor- 
ship. In  this  place  a  revival  was  held,  which  resulted  in  some  conversions. 
This  store  house  was  then  owned  by  Frank  Shimer,  who  sold  the  property  in 
the  spring  of  1887,  and  the  church  services  and  Sunday  School  w^ere  trans- 
ferred to  the  Marion  Street  public  school  building. 

In  1887  a  church  house  was  erected  on  the  lot  at  Tenth  and  Spring 
Streets.  The  cornerstone  was  laid  May  26,  1887;  and  the  new  church  was 
dedicated  June  19,  1887,  by  Presiding  Elder  Shoop,  who  was  assisted  by  Rev. 
A.  M.  Blecker  and  Rev.  S.  Etter.  Rev.  Shoop  preached  at  2.30  p.m.  from 
Psalm  26 :  8  :  "Lord,  I  have  loved  the  habitation  of  thy  house,  and  the  place 
where  thine  honor  dwelleth."  In  the  evening  he  preached  from  Acts  19:2: 
"Have  ye  received  the  Holy  Ghost  since  ye  believed  ?"  After  the  sermon  the 
Lord's  Supper  was  observed.     The  edifice  was  of  frame,  35  feet  wide  and  50 


UNITED      BRETHREN      CHURCH  61 

feet  long.  The  pulpit  was  of  walnut,  and  the  chancel,  enclosed  by  a  neat  rail- 
ing, was  carpeted.  The  contract  price  of  this  first  church  building  was  $1,100, 
and  Frank  B.  Reinert  was  the  contractor.  Mrs.  Etter,  the  devoted  wife  of  the 
pastor,  used  to  carry  water  in  buckets  from  Ninth  Street  to  clean  the  church. 
Rev.  Etter  served  the  new  church  as  pastor  during  three  consecutive  years, 
and  reported  a  membership  of  forty-five. 

On  April  1 ,  1 89 1 ,  additional  ground  adjoining  the  church  lot  was  pur- 
chased of  Frank  S.  Livingood  for  $1,200.  This  gave  the  church  43  feet  addi- 
tional frontage  on  Spring  Street,  making  the  lot  a  rectangle  of  1 00  feet  on 
North  Tenth  Street  and  83  feet  on  Spring  Street.  The  corner  lot,  containing 
60  feet  front  on  North  Tenth  Street  and  83  feet  front  on  Spring  Street,  was 
sold  under  the  pastorate  of  L.  W.  Craumer  to  William  Hinnershitz  for  $1,000, 
leaving  to  the  church  but  40  feet  front  on  North  Tenth  Street,  and  extending 
83  feet  deep  along  a  ten-foot  alley.  Blunders  like  this  will  sometimes  be  made 
in  church  enterprises  as  well  as  in  other  undertakings. 

Early  in  October,  1893,  Rev.  D.  S.  Longenecker  became  pastor  of  Salem 
Church.  The  editors  of  the  "Conference  Souvenir"  for  1 906  say  that  Rev. 
Longenecker  found  only  eleven  members  on  the  church  record,  and  a  notice 
on  the  church  door,  "For  Sale."  He  refused  to  preach  in  the  church  until  this 
notice  was  removed.  He  reorganized  the  church,  reinstated  many  members 
and  repaired  and  enlarged  the  church.  At  the  end  of  a  pastorate  of  four 
years  Rev.  Longenecker  reported  a  membership  of  1  96.  The  first  report  of  a 
Young  People's  Society  appears  in  the  Conference  journal  of  1  894.  The  So- 
ciety then  had  54  members. 

The  church  continued  to  grow  in  members  and  in  influence  under  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  A.  Lehman,  who  took  charge  of  the  work  in  October,  1897. 
After  serving  the  church  for  six  years,  Rev.  Lehman  reported  3  1  I  members, 
with  a  Sunday  School  enrollment  of  329,  a  Senior  Young  People's  Society 
w^ith  134  members  and  a  Junior  Society  of  81  members.  In  1901,  during  Rev. 
Lehman's  pastorate,  the  three-story  brick  dwelling  adjoining  the  church  prop- 
erty on  the  north  w^as  bought  for  $2,300  for  a  parsonage. 

Rev.  W.  W.  Fridinger  was  sent  to  Salem  Church  in  October,  1903.  The 
church  building  was  partially  destroyed  by  fire  on  April  28,  1904.  A  local 
paper  gave  the  following  account  of  the  fire : 

The  one-story  frame  church  of  Salem  U.  B.  congregation  was  badly  damaged  by  fire  Thurs- 
day, April  28,  at  6.30  p.m.  The  entire  structure  was  in  danger  because  of  the  failure  of  the  fire 
alarm  to  ring  properly,  delaying  the  firemen  ten  minutes.  The  flames  ate  their  ■way  to  the 
steeple  on  the  corner  of  the  roof  and  communicated  with  the  partition  to  the  north  of  the  hall- 
way. The  fire  was  of  a  stubborn  nature,  so  that  it  w^as  an  hour  before  it  w^as  fully  extinguished. 
Parts  of  the  roof  had  to  be  torn  up  and  the  tow^er,  w^hich  is  closed  on  all  sides,  opened  at  several 
places.  The  auditorium  was  not  damaged  by  the  fire,  but  w^ater  got  into  it.  The  windows  in 
the  front  w^all  w^ere  smashed.  The  cause  is  not  exactly  know^n;  but  an  oil  stove  w^hich  w^as 
placed  in  the  prayer-meeting  room,  to  heat  it  for  the  evening  worship,  may  have  been  over- 
heated and  ignited  the  partition.  The  cause  of  the  fire  alarm  not  w^orking  properly  w^as  attri- 
buted by  Superintendent  Hofses  to  a  crossed  w^ire,  w^hich  caused  the  irregular  tapping. 

Some  time  after  the  fire  arrangements  w^ere  made  to  rebuild.  The  pres- 
ent  substantial   brick   structure  w^as   erected   at   a  cost  of  $  1 2,222.25.     It  was 


62 


HISTORICAL      SOUVENIR 


dedicated  to  the  service  of  God  January  8,  1905,  by  Bishop  J.  S.  Mills,  D.D., 
LL.D.  The  sessions  of  the  Annual  Conference,  then  known  as  the  Eastern 
Conference  of  the  Church  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ,  were  held  in  the 
old  church  building  of  Salem  congregation  October  6  to  9,  1898.  The  mem- 
bers and  friends  of  the  church  royally  entertained  the  ministers  and  lay  dele- 
gates of  the  conference.  Bishop  E.  B.  Kephart,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  presided  at  this 
conference.  Again  in  1906,  from  October  10  to  15,  the  congregation  of  Salem 
Church  opened  wide  the  doors  of  their  new^  building  and  gave  a  hearty  -wel- 
come to  their  homes  to  the  members  of  the  one  hundred  and  seventh  annual 
session  of  the  East  Pennsylvania  Conference,  with  Bishop  J.  S.  Mills,  D.D., 
LL.D.,  as  presiding  officer.  Salem  Church  has  been  influential  in  doing  good 
in  many  -ways,  and  has  been  successful  in  w^inning  many  precious  souls  for 
Christ.  She  is  also  noted  for  sending  quite  a  number  of  her  sons  into  the 
active  ministry  of  the  Word.  The  following  persons  have  received  their  quar- 
terly conference  license  at  Salem  to  preach  the  Gospel : 

James  E.  Keene  H.  F.  Reber         Charles  G.  Hummel         Harry  Zue  Archantine  Wolf 

John  B.  Zweizig         Harper  Kreiser    Percy  Lehman  G.  W.  Rothermel  Titus  Leibold 

The  follow^ing  served  as  pastors  of  Salem  Church : 

Samuel  Etter  ....  1886-89  L.  W.  Craumer  .  .  .  1891-93  W.  W  Fridinger  .  .  1903-08 
Jacob  H.  Mark  .  .  .1889-90  D.  S.  Longenecker  .  .1893-97  S.  B.  Wengert  .  .  .1908— 
C.S.Miller 1890-91        A.Lehman 1897-03 


GRACE  U.  B.  CHURCH,  BIRDSBORO 

By  Prof.  J.  A.  Grier 

This  church  was  organized    in  1885,  under   the   pastorate   of   Rev.  M.  P. 

Doyle,  w^ith  the  follow^ing 
charter  members :  Freder- 
ick H.  Millard,  Mrs.  Fred- 
erick H.  Millard,  David  Mc- 
Chalicher,  Mrs.  David  Mc- 
Chalicher,  Mary  McChal- 
icher,  Carrie  McChalicher, 
Samuel  H.  Wert,  Mrs.  S.  H. 
Wert,  Benjamin  Grubb,  Mrs. 
B.  Grubb,  Emanuel  Grubb, 
David  Painter,  Lavina  Mil- 
lard, Levi  McChalicher.  The 
church  building  was  erected 
in  the  year  1886,  the  first 
board  of  trustees  being 
F  rederick  H.  Millard,  Ben- 
Grace  U.  B.  Chur.li.  Biidsboro  jamin  Grubb,  Emanuel 
Grubb,  David  McChalicher  and  Samuel  H.  Wert.  Various  improvements  have 
been  made  in  the  building  from  time  to  time,  the  latest  being  a  fine  new  Pri- 
mary Sunday  School  room. 


UNITED      BRETHREN      CHURCH 


63 


The  following  have  served  as  pastors  in  the  order  named :  Martin  P. 
Doyle,  George  A.  Doyle,  Philip  Garrett, 
Ulysses  S.  G.  Renn,  J.  K.  Wagner,  J.  A. 
Grier,  Nimrod  A.  Karicofe,  Thomas  Gar- 
land, George  F.  Bierman,  G.  W.  Miles  Ri- 
gor, G.  B.  Raezler,  William  Beach,  J.  Fran- 
cis Smith,  George  M.  Richter.  The  largest 
membership  was  under  the  pastorate  of 
Rev.  J.  A.  Grier,  about  one  hundred  then 
being  connected  w^ith  the  church.  One 
revival  during  this  pastorate  resulted  in 
over  sixty  conversions.  The  present  mem- 
bership is  sixty-six.  The  following  are  the 
present  officers :  Pastor,  Rev.  George  M. 
Richter;  Local  Preachers,  J.  A.  Grier,  Ver- 
non D.  Grubb ;  Board  of  Trustees,  F.  H. 
Millard,  Samuel  H.  Wert,  Elmer  E.  Keinard, 
William  Painter,  D.  Hunter  Watts,  Harvey 
Kulp,  Vernon  D.  Grubb ;  Class  Leader,  F. 
H.  Millard ;  Prayer  Meeting  Leader,  Carl 
Pearson ;  Sunday  School  Superintendent, 
Harvey  Kulp  ;  President  of  Society  of  Chris- 
tian Endeavor,  Walter  Moyer ;  Superintendent  Junior  Society  of  Christian  En- 
deavor, Samuel  H.  Wert ;  Church  Treasurer  and  Secretary  of  Official  Board, 
J.  A.  Grier ;  Organists,  Mrs.  Renie  Kulp  and  J.  A.  Grier.  Official  Board  meets 
on  the  first  Friday  evening  of  each  month. 


Prof.  J.  A.  Grier 


TRINITY  U.  B.  CHURCH,  DENVER,  PA. 

'  By  Rev.  J.  E.  Keene 

This  church  was  founded  by  Rev.  U.  S.  G.  Renn. 
On  the  3d  of  September,  1  899,  he  organized  a  class 
of  seven  members,  as  follow^s  :  Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  B. 
Wolf,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  R.  McGill,  Mrs.  A.  R.  Kurtz, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Shuler.  The  first  service  was 
held  in  Shirk's  Hall,  on  Railroad  Street,  February 
26,  1900,  by  the  pastor.  Rev.  U.  S.  G.  Renn.  The 
church  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Kephart  November 
25,  1900,  assisted  by  Rev.  D.  D.  Lowery  and  Rev. 
S.  L.  Rhoads.  It  cost  $5,476.  These  were  the 
successive  pastors:  U.  S.  G.  Renn,  1899  to  1900; 
S.  L.  Rhoads,  1900  to  1903;  A.  Lehman,  1903  to 
1905;  S.  G.  Kauffman,  1905  to  1908.  The  present 
The  first  trustees  were  E.  B.  Wolf,  A.  R.  McGill, 
Isaac  H.  Miller,  Charles  Yeager  and  E.  B.  King.  The  Rev.  S.  L.  Rhoads, 
under  w^hose  directing   hand  the   church  was  erected,  did  a  fine  work  on  this 


Rev.  J.  E.  Keene 

pastor  is  Rev.  J.  E.  Keene. 


64 


HISTORICAL      SOUVENIR 


charge.     This  is  a  case  where  a  good   opportunity  to   estabHsh   a  church  in  a 

place  where  it  was  needed 
w^as  seen  and  embraced  by 
the  first  pastor,  w^hose  good 
work  was  carried  on  and 
completed  by  those  who 
succeeded  him  in  the  pas- 
torate. In  this  way  and  in 
this  case  a  good  church  has 
been  built  and  a  fine  con- 
gregation established  in  the 
course  of  ten  years.  The 
promise  and  prospect  of 
continued  advancement  by 
this  young  church  is  en- 
couraging. As  the  years 
come  and  go  its  member- 
ship should  achieve  addi- 
tional distinction  in  every 
high  and  holy  sense,  mak- 
ing for  Him  w^ho  gave  them 


Trinity  United  Brethren  ChurcK,  Denver,  Pa. 


this  inheritance  a  still  larger  place  in  the  affections  of  the  community,  especi- 
ally by  winning  to  the  Christ  those  who  have  not  yet  responded  to  the  call. 

GRACE  UNITED  BRETHREN  CHURCH,  COATSVILLE,  PA. 

By  Rev.  H.  S.  Kiefer 

The  need  of  a  United  Brethren  Church 
in  Coatsville  was  seen  in  the  fact  that  many 
of  our  people  were  moving  there  from  oth- 
er places,  and  were  compelled  to  join 
other  churches.  The  larger  demand,  of 
course,  was  in  the  fact  that  many  people 
in  the  town  were  unsaved  and  unchurched. 
So,  on  the  evening  of  November  5,  1901, 
at  the  home  of  Mr.  Charles  C.  Leber,  41 
South  Fourth  Street,  a  class  of  six  members 
was  organized  by  Rev.  G.  W.  M.  Rigor, 
who  then  was  pastor  of  the  Elverson  United 
Brethren  Church.  I  he  six  charter  members 
were  J.  W.  Hughes,  Mary  Hughes,  Charles 
C.  Leber,  Emma  P.  Leber,  Mame  Trego  and 
Howard  Wilson.  J.  W.  Hughes  was  elected 
class  leader,  and  Charles  C.  Leber  and 
Howard  Wilson  stewards.  Rev.  Rigor  con- 
tinued to  serve  the  new  class  as  pastor  till  Rev.  H.  s.  Kieffer 


UNITED       BRETHREN      CHURCH 


65 


0) 


66  HISTORICAL      SOUVENIR 

the  close  of  the  year,  when  Mr.  Harry  Bokes  was  elected  to  the  Annual  Con- 
ference, w^hich  met  in  Lebanon,  Penn'a,  October,  1902,  with  instructions  to 
ask  Conference  to  make  Coatsville  a  mission  station  and  send  them  a  pastor. 
In  response  to  that  request  Rev.  Rigor  w^as  appointed  to  Coatsville.  The  So- 
ciety, now  numbering  fourteen,  rented  Odd  Fellows  Hall,  corner  Third  Ave- 
nue and  Main  Street.  A  little  later  a  board  of  trustees  was  elected  as  follows : 
Rev.  G.  W.  M.  Rigor,  W.  P.  Snyder,  E.  V.  S.  Diem,  C.  C.  Leber  and  H.  J. 
Bokes,  w^ho  purchased  a  lot  from  Harry  Wagner  on  the  southeast  corner  of 
Fifth  Avenue  and  Olive  Street.  About  this  time  a  Sunday  School  was  organ- 
ized with  W.  P.  Snyder  as  superintendent  and  J.  H.  Peters  as  assistant.  A 
Christian  Endeavor  Society  w^as  also  organized  with  A.  H.  Gehman  as  presi- 
dent and  Mrs.  Violet  Bokes  vice-president.  A  little  later  the  executive  com- 
mittee of  the  Church  Extension  Board  visited  Coatsville  by  request  of  the 
pastor  and  trustees,  and  the  committee  decided  that  the  lot  purchased  was 
not  suitable  for  a  church  site,  and  directed  the  trustees  to  sell  it. 

During  the  summer  of  1903,  owing  to  the  illness  of  Rev.  G.  W.  M.  Rigor, 
E.  B.  Harris,  of  the  Moody  Bible  Institute,  Chicago,  w^as  placed  in  charge  of 
the  w^ork,  and  w^as  reappointed  to  the  charge  the  following  fall.  In  October, 
1904,  Rev.  H.  M.  Klinger  w^as  appointed  to  the  pastorate,  and  was  reappointed 
in  October,  1905.  During  the  second  year  of  Rev.  Klinger's  pastorate  a  new^ 
site  was  secured  from  J.  Rodney  Martin,  corner  Olive  Street  and  Virginia 
Avenue,  at  a  cost  of  $1,900.  On  this  lot  a  church  was  built  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  following  board  of  trustees:  E.  V.  S.  Diem,  president,  W.  R.  Kee- 
ner, secretary,  P.  H.  Heckler,  treasurer,  R.  B.  Stover  and  S.  A.  Bell.  This 
beautiful  church,  40  x  60  feet,  is  built  of  Reading  shale  brick,  with  Indiana 
limestone  trimmings,  was  dedicated  March  3,  1907,  by  Bishop  Mills,  D.D., 
LL.D.,  assisted  by  Dr.  Lowery  and  Rev.  H.  M.  Klinger.  At  the  Conference 
of  1908  the  pastor  presented  the  following  report:  Members,  69;  Sunday 
School  scholars  enrolled,  275;  Y.  P.  S.  C.  E.,  44;  Juniors,  103;  money  col- 
lected during  the  year,  $1,470.  At  this  Conference  the  present  pastor.  Rev. 
H.  S.  Kiefer,  was  appointed.  At  this  time  the  membership  is  87,  and  the 
enrollment  in  Sunday  School  is  350.  March  7,  1909,  we  observed  our  first 
anniversary  of  the  dedication  of  the  church.  Dr.  D.  D.  Lowery  and  Rev.  G. 
D.  Batdorf  were  present  and  gave  splendid  sermons  and  service.  The  offer- 
ing was  over  $400.     The  work  is  hopeful,  and  the  church  is  growing. 

The  outlook  of  this  church  is  especially  encouraging  from  the  standpoint 
of  the  Sunday  School,  in  which  there  is  a  large  and  rapidly  growing  enroll- 
ment, sustained  by  a  fair  and  increasing  attendance.  Moreover,  many  pious 
and  substantial  men  and  women  are  included  in  the  membership  of  the  con- 
gregation, whose  services  are  interesting  and  w^ell  attended.  If  the  present 
organized  life  and  individual  influence  of  the  church  remain  loyal  to  Christ, 
the  future  years  will  witness  a  still  more  blessed  expression  of  spiritual  grace 
and  power.  This  is  the  will  of  God,  the  purpose  of  the  church,  and  the  pray- 
er of  the  pastor. 


UNITED      BRETHREN      CHURCH 


67 


SINKING  SPRING  U.  B.  CHURCH 

By  Dr.  1.  H.  Albright 

Meeting-houses  and  churches  are  a  necessity  in  the  development  of  a 
Christian  civilization.  They  assure  growth  and  permanency  in  the  vv^ork  of 
the  church.  The  heath- 
en religionist  recog- 
nizes the  importance 
of  having  suitable 
places  of  worship.  The 
Buddhist  has  his  tem- 
ple, the  Shintoist  has 
his  shrine,  the  Confu- 
cianist  has  his  pagoda, 
the  pagan  his  idol- 
house,  the  Jew  has  had 
histabernacle,  histem- 
pleand  his  synagogue, 
and  still  has  his  syna- 
gogue, and  the  Chris- 
tian must  have  his 
church.  Many  of  us 
have  been  so  long  ac- 
customed to  worship 
in  our  commodious 
meeting  -  houses  and 
fine  and  costly  edifices 
that  w^e  can  hardly 
appreciate  the  difficul- 
ties and  inconveni- 
ences that  confront 
those  congregations 
w^ho,  by  force  of  cir- 
cumstances, are  com- 
pelled to  worship  in  any  old  place.  In  the  early  history  of  our  Church,  the 
fathers  worshipped  in  private  houses,  barns,  school-houses,  shops,  groves  and 
in  other  inconvenient  places  where  the  people  could  be  assembled.  They 
worshipped  thus  for  years  in  the  homes  of  Brothers  Bishop,  Geeting,  Kemp, 
Doub,  Huber,  Newcomer,  Weidman,  Russel,  Draksel,  Herbaugh,  Kreider,  Se- 
christ,  Middlekauff,  and  of  many  others.  They  did  the  best  they  could  under 
the  circumstances,  until  the  momentum  of  their  evangelistic  labors  had  gained 
such  headway  as  to  lay  upon  them  the  necessity  of  building  churches.  Our 
fathers,  like  Abraham  the  patriarch,  built  altars  to  the  Lord  before  they  built 
houses  for  themselves  or  meeting-houses  in  which  to  erect  their  altars.  Their 
best   energies  were   spent   in  winning   souls   to    Christ,  and  in  this  work  they 


1.  H.  Albright 


68  SOUVENIR       HISTORY 

were  eminently  successful,  but  there  they  too  often  stopped.  Hence  the 
building  of  churches  was  very  slow^  w^ork  for  years.  Up  to  the  year  1800  only 
three  United  Brethren  churches  had  been  built:  Geeting's  meeting  house,  near 
Keedysville,  Md.,  built  in  1  775  ;  Otterbein  Church,  Baltimore,  Md.,  built  in 
1  785  ;  and  Meidig's  meeting-house,  Oberlin,  Pa.,  built  in  1  793.  These  churches 
were  all  located  in  widely-separated  communities,  and  each  became  a  strong 
centre -for  missionary  operations. 

One  of  the  early  preaching  places  w^as  at  Solomon  Weidman's,  near  Sink- 
ing Spring,  Penn'a,  about  five  miles  w^est  of  Reading.  Here  Newcomer  and 
Geeting  preached  and  held  "sacramental  meeting"  April  23,  24  and  25,  1  796. 
Newcomer  says  :  "Glory  to  God,  it  w^as  a  blessed  time."  During  the  following 
year,  on  May  1  3,  Brothers  Newcomer  and  Pfrimmer  conducted  a  week's  ser- 
vices here,  in  the  presence  of  a  great  "collection  of  people  from  far  and  near." 
Our  brethren  continued  to  preach  regularly  in  Weidman's  house,  and  during 
the  summer  season  in  the  large  barn.  Both  the  house  and  barn  are  still 
standing,  and  were  used  to  hold  services  in  until  1867,  w^hen  a  substantial 
two-story  brick  church  v^as  built  in  Sinking  Spring.  The  corner-stone  of  this 
church  was  laid  October  I  4,  I  866,  and  the  completed  church  was  dedicated 
on  Sunday,  June  9,   1867. 


UNITED      BRETHREN      CHURCH 


69 


SOME  INTERESTING  EXTRAS 


THE  ELECTORAL  COMMISSION 


■7e-'?\?:. 

1 

^ 

«    »ari*it-.^"    -«*««»_    -^  •     •-       ,'^      1.. 

1 

1 

I. 

li 

'3 

vi'i 

E^iRS 

T,* 

k^^„.^^  ..^^ 

V;,. 

ir""\m^ 

"-'   •'^^>    m^ 

^) 

jS^Hf 

lES^^j 

¥i 

Here  is  an  interesting  historic  scene,  which  is  laid  in  the  room  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  at  Washington,  D.  C.  It  is  a  splendid 
reproduction  of  Mrs.  Fassett's  famous  painting  of  the  Electoral  Commission, 
which  was  a  strange  device  conceived  by  Congress  to  determine  whether 
R.  B.  Hayes  or  Samuel  J.  Tilden  had  been  elected  President  of  the  United 
States.  William  M.  Evarts,  a  noted  lawyer  and  statesman,  is  addressing  the 
Commission  in  the  interest  of  the  Republican  candidate,  whose  attorney  he 
was.  A.  G.  Thurman,  T.  F.  Bayard,  George  F.  Edmunds,  O.  P.  Morton,  Jus- 
tice Bradley  and  other  noted  men  are  readily  recognized  on  the  bench.  Roscoe 
Conkling  and  Senator  Ransom  are  looking  eagerly  into  the  face  of 
Mr.  Evarts,  while  Sam  Randall  and  Ben :  Perley  Poore  are  standing  behind 
him.  Mrs.  Fassett  herself,  with  note-book  in  hand,  sits  in  the  central  fore- 
ground sketching.  Just  back  of  her,  with  face  turned  this  way,  in  the  act  of 
speaking  to  some  one,  is  James  G.  Blaine.  Matt  Carpenter,  that  gifted  genius 
of  the  law,  sits  with  his  head  to  one  side,  at  the  end  of  the  table,  looking  this 
way.  Then  there  is  William  Windom,  Senator  Kernan,  and  John  J.  Ingalls,  of 
Kansas,  who  used  to  say  what  most  politicians  seem  to    believe   in   their  very 


70 


HISTORICAL      SOUVENIR 


hearts,  that  "the  Decalogue  has  no  place  in  politics."  My,  what  a  power  that 
man  was  in  debate.  Logan,  Allison  and  Sherman  are  plainly  seen.  Great 
picture — Great  assembly  !  Great  occasion  ! 

A  POLITICAL  INCIDENT 
Here  is  a  picture  of  the  oldest  house  in  Dillsburg,  Pa.     The   Rev.  Ander- 
son B.  Quay,  pastor    of   the    Presbyterian    Church    of  that  town,  and  father  of 

Hon.  Matthew  Stan- 
ley Quay,  lived  in 
this  house  from 
1830  to  1839.  In 
this  house  "Matt" 
was  born  in  1833, 
and  spent  six  of  the 
earliest  years  of  his 
life.  My  good 
friend,  the  Rev.  W. 
A.  Dickson,  pastor 
of  the  United  Breth- 
ren Church  of  Dills- 
burg, knowing  my 
personal  interest  in 
landmark  history, 
kindly  sent  me  this 

Matt  Quay's  Childhood  Home  photO  SCVCral  yearS 

ago.  The  picture  recalls  an  interesting  political  event  in  the  history  of  my 
ten-year  pastorate  at  Trinity  Church,  Lebanon,  which  city  and  county  were 
strongly  Republican,  but  also  largely  anti-Quay.  In  November,  1900,  1  think 
it  was,  Lebanon  County  was  the  battle-ground  of  factional  contention,  and  the 
Quay  people  closed  the  hottest  fight  of  their  life  with  a  great  meeting  in  Fish- 
er Academy,  where  Senator  Quay,  Justice  John  P.  Elkins,  Adjutant-General 
Stewart  and  other  high  State  and  Federal  officials  were  to  speak.  Some  ten 
days  before  this  final  rally,  six  or  eight  members  of  the  Republican  Committee, 
headed  by  the  late  Judge  Capp,  who  was  spokesman,  called  at  the  parsonage 
and  informed  me  that  I  had  been  unanimously  selected  to  preside  at  the 
meeting  and  introduce  the  speakers.  The  members  of  the  committee  were 
personal  friends  of  mine,  and  some  of  them  were  among  my  most  prominent 
parishioners.  This  request  presented  a  perplexing  problem  ;  but  1  promptly 
decided  not  to  preside.  Then  Judge  Capp  made  another  appeal,  but  I  de- 
clined again,  mainly  for  these  reasons:  First,  I  was  not  in  sympathy  with 
Senator  Qyay's  political  methods ;  second,  I  never  meddle  with  partisan  poli- 
tics; third,  my  church,  which  was  strong  and  influential,  would  have  felt  sorry 
over  my  appearance  in  politics.  So,  Mayor  Gerhard  presided  at  the  Quay 
rally,  and  the  pastor  of  Trinity  Church  "saved  his  bacon" — in  more  ways  than 
one!  Among  those  who  came  as  a  committee  were  Judge  Capp,  J.  Henry 
Miller,  E.  E.  McCurdy  and  John  Hunsicker,  Sr.     The  others  I  do  not  remember. 


UNITED      BRETHREN      CHURCH 


71 


Bakers   Valley  Chapel 


BAKERS  VALLEY  CHAPEL,  FREDERICK  COUNTY,  MD. 

Here  is  a  spiritual  cozy-corner  in  the  memory  of  my  early  ministry,  even 
before  I  was  entrusted  with  a  pastorate.  Here,  in  Bakers  Valley,  a  picturesque 
dell  w^ithin  a  stone's 
throw  of  the  Mo- 
nocacy  battlefield, 
about  three  miles 
southeast  of  Frede- 
rick, Md.,  lived  one 
of  my  early  friends, 
Mr.  Edward  Baker, 
after  whom  this 
chapel  in  the  grove 
w^as  named,  and  by 
w^hom  it  w^as  large- 
ly built.  I  used  to 
visit  Mr.  Baker  be- 
fore 1  became  a 
regular  pastor,  and 
sometimes  preach- 
ed in  this    church, 

which  is  now  used  as  a  dwelling.  It  was  erected  in  1867,  just  a  century  to 
the  day  after  the  pentecostal  meeting  at  Isaac  Long's,  and  was  dedicated  by 
Bishop  Glossbrenner,  who  was  a  bosom  friend  of  Brother  Baker's.  Revs.  A. 
M.  Evers,  John  Wesley  Grimm,  J.  Luther  Grimm,  J.  D.  Freed  and  C.  T.  Stearn 
were  present  and  assisted  at  the  dedication.  Miss  Laura  Baker,  daughter  of 
Edward  Baker,  the  founder  of  the  church,  says  she  distinctly  remembers  how 
sweetly  Rev.  Evers  and  the  Grimms  sang  on  that  occasion.  Among  the 
prominent  laymen  present  were  Uncle  Peter  Kemp,  at  whose  father's  home 
the  United  Brethren  Church  was  organized  in  1800,  Jacob  Perry,  Sr.,  and  John 
D.  Cramer.  Daniel  H.  Hendrickson  hauled  the  stones  for  the  chapel  and 
boarded  the  workmen  ;  Mr.  Charles  Geisbert  did  the  carpenter  work  and  Mr. 
Elsworth  did  the  masonry.  Miss  Lizzie  Ridgely  and  the  two  Miss  Bakers, 
Laura  and  Essie,  collected  the  money  for  the  furniture.  Mr.  Grafton  Duvall 
gave  the  chandelier  and  pulpit  lamps. 

On  the  1 4th  of  June,  1  88 1 ,  Miss  Essie  .Baker  was  married  in  this  cozy 
little  church  to  Mr.  Wesley  Maxwell.  Rev.  J.  D.  Freed  was  the  officiating 
clergyman.  The  second  marriage  that  occurred  in  the  church  was  that  of 
Miss  Kate  Fout  to  Mr.  John  Leith.  These  were  all  delightful  occasions,  full 
of  the  old-time  cheer  and  dignity,  including  a  high  tide  of  real  sociability. 

The  first  trustees  were  Edward  Baker,  Daniel  Baker,  Daniel  Hendrickson, 
Charles  Geisbert  and  Frank  Hahn.  The  Hendricksons,  Geisberts,  Hahns  and 
Bakers  were  the  principal  members  then.  Mr.  Edward  Baker  gave  me  a  new 
saddle  and  bridle   when    I   became    a   pastor.     He   and    Peter  Kemp,  Henry 


72 


HISTORICAL      SOUVENIR 


The  Shook  Home 


Perry,  Frederick  Kintz,  Daniel  Shook,  Daniel    H.  Hendrickson    and    Cornelius 
Staley  were  good  friends  of  mine.     I  hope  to  meet  all  of  them  soon. 

MY  PLAYMATE'S  HOME 

This  picture  revives  sacred  memories !  It  presents  the  scene  of  many  a 
sunlit  hour,  It  is  the  Shook  home  near  Frederick  City,  Md.,  w^here  our  min- 
isters preached  before  the 
church  owned  a  chapel,  ex- 
cept the  "Geeting  Meeting 
House"  at  Antietam.  Mr. 
Daniel  Shook  ow^ned  and  oc- 
cupied this  house  when  1  first 
knevs^  it,  and  after  his  death 
his  son  Grandison  bought  it. 
The  younger  boys,  Dan  and 
Will,  I  knew  and  loved  and 
played  with  all  through  my 
childhood.  Dan  w^as  near  my 
age  and  stood  closer  to  me  than  any  other  boy.  He  w^as  instrumental  in  my 
conversion.  He  died  several  years  ago.  So  far  as  1  know^.  Will  is  still  living 
and  is  a  useful  member  of  the  church.  In  this  house  my  father's  funeral  oc- 
curred. Dr.  Zacharias,  his  pastor,  preached  the  sermon.  This  house  is  near 
my  childhood  home.  Blessed  memories  come  to  my  heart  as  I  think  of  my 
dear  playmates  ! 

A  COLD  MORNING  RIDE 

This  snapshot  recalls  a  very  cold  morning  about  six  years  ago.  It  was 
taken  in  front  of  Trinity  United  Brethren 
Church,  Ninth  and  Willow  Streets,  Leba- 
non, Penn'a.  The  morning  vs^as  bright  but 
intensely  cold,  the  pavement  w^as  covered 
with  ice  and  the  streets  were  drifted  full 
of  snow,  as  you  see.  Still,  the  Junior 
preacher,  who  was  very  junior  then,  went 
out  for  a  ride.  Then,  as  now,  he  was  quiet- 
ly eager  for  fun  and  frolic,  and  always 
ready  to  "go."  Indeed,  he  and  I  have  been 
on  the  go  together  from  that  day  to  this, 
rarely  separated  except  when  he  was  at 
school.  On  this  particular  occasion,  our 
entreaties  to  the  contrary   notwithstanding, 

.1  I       •  1       I  il  1       I  A  Cold  Morning  Hide 

the    mercury  being    below  ?ero,  the    baby 

insisted   on   a  "ride."     Here   he   is   in  the   enjoyment  of  that  exquisite  delight. 


DATE  DUE 

^..it^mism^ 

dfl""     -  -   ■ 

GAYLORD 

PRINTED  IN  U    S.A. 

Kffica^Suven,r  of  several  of  the 

Pr,nceton  Theological  Semmary^Speer  Libja^ 


1    1012  00044  6874 


